Fetichism in West Africa : $b forty years' observation of native customs and superstitionsNassau, Robert Hamill
Philosophy
Fetichism in West Africa : $b forty years' observation of native customs and superstitions
Nassau, Robert Hamill
Ethnology -- Africa, West; Fetishism -- Africa, West
But after a while Ogula began to tire of this kind of life; so he said to
himself, "If I only had a gun, I could go hunting. But even without the
gun, I will go out and see what I can see." So he went out alone, not
calling his brother or his servant to go with him. He went and went, on,
on, for a half-day's journey, till he happened to come to a large house
built in a very strange style, having no door at its side and with a flat
roof. The place looked clean, as if kept in order by people. He approached
cautiously; but looking around, he saw no one at all. He said to himself,
"Who owns this place? Surely some one owns it, for it is so clean; but I
see no one here. I won't leave this place to-day till I know who lives
here." He decided to retire a little and climb up a tall tree overlooking
the house and watch from there. He was very hungry, having had no food
that day, but he still decided to wait and see what was about the house.
After he had been up the tree a long while, late in the afternoon he saw a
number of men coming. He saw one of them climb up the side of the house to
the roof, where was a trap-door. All of the men had bundles of goods. The
first one who had climbed to the roof spoke a few words to the door as he
stood before it, and the two parts of the door flew open of themselves.
Then the other men climbed up with their bundles, and went into the house.
All this Ogula could see from his tree-top. He said to himself, "Now I am
hungry, and must go, for I have seen enough to-day. I see that this house
is occupied, and by men, and how they enter; it is enough for to-day." He
thought it time to move before any of the people should come out of the
house. He came down rapidly, and went back to the little hut of the old
man.
When he got to his own house, his brother Nkombe asked, "Where have you
been all day?" Ogula said, "I was tired of working, and took a walk to the
forest, and missed my way." But he did not tell his brother the story of
what he had seen.
Ogula then ate a little and went to bed, though it was not very late. He
went thus soon to bed, for he wanted to go early next day to inspect the
big house again. So, very, very early, before daylight, Ogula was up and
off, for he did not wish his brother to ask him where he was going.
He remembered the way to the big house, and went directly there. He
climbed his tree. He looked and saw that the door of the house was open.
He waited a little while, and then saw the men climbing out of the door.
Their leader was the last; he spoke a cabalistic word, pressed his foot on
the threshold, as the two sides of the door folded together, and it was
closed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account