[152] Mr. Dennett tells me that _Ndundu_ when born are thrown into the bush. During his long residence in Africa he has only seen one, and that was at Kinsembo, eighteen years ago. Proyart (_Histoire de Loango_, Paris, 1819, p. 150) says that these albinos are held higher than the Gangas, are looked upon almost as “divine,” and that their hair is valued as giving protection against accidents. See also p. 81. [153] _Mukishi à Loango_, the fetish or “charm” of Loango. _Checocke_ is identical with Dapper’s _Kikoko_ (_Africa_, Amsterdam, 1671, p. 535). Dapper’s account is not derived from Battell. [154] According to Mr. Bentley, hysteria is very common in this country. For the account of the ravings of a witch-doctor, see _Pioneering_, vol. i, p. 271. [155] Mr. Dennett informs me that the underground speaking fetish in Loango is at the present time called _Boio_, and is found at Chilunga. He suggests that _Ngumbiri_ may be a river spirit, or _Nkishi_ from the country north of Mayumba. Dr. Bastian paid a visit to the holy place of the underground oracle of _Ngoio_ near Moanda, known as _Mbunzi_, which only speaks on the accession of a king, whom he instructs as to his royal duties (_Die Deutsche Expedition_, vol. i, p. 85, 223). [156] The mami (_mwana_, or princes) mentioned by Battell are those of Chibanga, Selanganga (of the family of the Petra Praia of Kenga), Mbuku, and Kaya, in Chikamba. (R. E. Dennett, on the law of succession, see note on p. 44.) [157] Mani Lombe is a man’s name: at least, at the present time, and is never given to a woman. It means “One who is peaceful and quiet.” No special name or title is borne by the mother of the successors of Maloango (R. E. Dennett); but as Lumbu means stockade, palace, or chiefs house, Battell may have mistaken a word applied to this woman’s residence for that of her title. Lombo means a person supposed to be an incarnation of a shimbi, or water-fairy. [158] Palm-cloth (see note, p. 9). [159] Dr. Bastian visited the Royal graves at Loangiri, or Loangele, and found each grave marked by a tusk. The visitors pulled out grass around the tomb and poured libations of rum upon the bare ground (_Die Deutsche Expedition an der Loango-Küste_, Berlin, 1874, vol. i, p. 69). [160] This may be quite true of earlier times, when Europeans were looked upon as great wizards, who rose out of the sea and were returned to that element when they died. At present, however, a burial-place is set apart for them, and is looked after by the Petra Praia (Salanganga), an office created since the arrival of the Portuguese for the purpose of looking after the affairs of the white men (R. E. Dennett).