.^t% HISTORY AND CUSTOMS OF THE M AFARANGA. 



lose a tooth, etc., or as soon as his headmen considered he had 

 reigned long enough, they waylaid him on a path and strangled 

 him. 



On his death many slaves were sacrificed ; they were clubbed 

 to death and buried at his side. The number of persons so killed' 

 numbered five old and two young men, four maidens and one old 

 woman. The body of Mambo was buried, wrapped in a black- 

 bull's hide. The burial-ground of the Mambos is stated to be in 

 the vicinity of Manyanga ; the place is called Mtoro (sometimes 

 Zimbabwe). An annual pilgrimage was made to this spot by 

 Mambo and all his headmen, and burnt offerings were made to 

 the ancestral spirits. A stay of eight days was made there, cer- 

 tain of these days being devoted to mourning, and others to 

 feasting and dancing. 



Since the Warozwi were expelled, this graxeyard has never 

 been used, but on the death of a Mrozwi his head is turned with 

 the mouth facing the spot, as thus the spirit will pass to its resting 

 place. 



During the period of the annual pilgrimage the ancestrrd 

 spirit would be consulted on matters of importance and general 

 policy ifor the coming year. The spirit usea the medium of some 

 living person to enable him to voice his commands ; usually this 

 medium was a woman, but occasionally a man was used. The 

 medium is known as Bofedci or Szvikiru. 



The insignia of rank of Mambo was a hoe and an arrow, or 

 the tail of a gnu and an arrow ; one was carried in each hand. 

 His usual guard was a number of great dogs and women armed 

 with spears and bows. 



The commission of certain crimes was dealt with most 

 severelv. These crimes were : the slaying of another in cold 

 blood when the slain had done no injury; adulterers of the wives 

 of headmen ; insulters of headmen, and those who continually 

 stirred up trouble in the state. Such crimes were considered 

 worthy of the death i>enalty, and criminals were executed by 

 means of a sharpened stake being driven downwards through the 

 crown of the head, transfixing the body. It is noteworthy, in 

 view of present-day occurrences, that men who looked on the 

 wives of Mambo were also executed in this manner. 



The usual religion of Africa is ancestor worship, and 

 in ctnnmon with other lines, the Warozwi sacrificed to their 

 lVad::imo when necessity urged them to this course ; but they 

 also revered, and sacrificed to a supreme God whom thev call 

 Mzi'ari or Mulimo, as he is more generally known in Matabeleland. 



Mwari is said to be the creator of all things, and has the 

 power to make rain and to prophesy. His place of residence 

 is in the Matobo or Matopo Hills, near to the Dombo-re-Mivari 

 (Rock of God.) His son, named Runji or Runzi, lives in the 

 same vicinity. 



History differs as to who was the mother of Runji, or even 

 whether he had a mother, but it is claimed that there was such 

 a person, whose name was Mvumira-Wamarumbi. 



