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
After they had been gone quite awhile, Ogula thought he would try to enter
the house, first seeking what was the way to open it. He said to himself,
"I know they have goods there, for I have seen them carried in." So he
descended from the tree, and going to the house, climbed up the side. When
he got to the top, he searched for something by which the door could be
opened. He saw nothing like a key or lock or handle. Then he remembered
the words he had heard the leader use, and thought, "Perhaps they were the
means by which the door was opened." So he uttered the words, "Yâginla
mie, kâ nungwa, awěmě!" (Obey me, and thyself open!) and, to his
surprise, the door flew open. Then he went down the flight of steps
leading below to the interior of the house. He was startled when he saw
the room full of all kinds of money and goods and wealth that any one
could wish to have. One could have taken away a great deal without its
absence being noticed, so abundant was the amount.
Ogula thought, "Isn't this fine! But I must be quick, lest the owners of
this house catch me here." So he took a cloth, and put into it a few small
articles and a quantity of cash. He tied up the bundle, went up the
stairway, and walked out of the door which he had left open. At the top he
remembered the word "Nunja!" (Shut!) which the leader had used for
closing. He spoke it; and the door shut. He hasted away, and back to the
hut of the old man. He did not enter it, but went to his own house and
there hid the bundle. He told no one anything, neither the old man nor his
servant nor even his brother. Soon the brother came over from his house,
saying, "Brother! I looked for you this morning; you must have gone out
very early." "Yes, I went out early, for I am tired of seeing so little;
so I went out to see what I could see."
The next day he did the same. On this trip he took not only money from the
house, but some fine clothing for himself to wear. As before, on emerging
at the top of the house, he spoke the word "Nunja!" the door closed, and
he was away again, no one having seen him. When Ogula got back to his
house, Nkombe asked him the same question of the day before, "Where have
you been?" and he made only the evasive answer. But Nkombe began to be
troubled. He feared something was wrong, and he determined to find out
what was the matter. So he decided to get up next morning just as early as
Ogula. The reason that Ogula did not tell Nkombe was because the latter
had a bad jealous heart, and was very covetous of money. So early in the
morning Ogula was off. He did not know that Nkombe had any thought of
following him. But as soon as Nkombe saw Ogula start, he followed him
cautiously, so that he might find out what his brother was doing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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