auokk;i.\al cr.Ai)-: names. 'J'J'J 



Qebeyi, a certain brick-red snake, is another object of super- 

 stitious fear, probably because the witch-doctors are supposed to 

 use it. In certain districts the natives of the tribe seem to 

 "worship" it. and no member of the tribe or ckm woukl dare 

 injure it. Contrariwise, the idea is that this particuhu" snake 

 protects the members of the tribe. (Jcbcyi is also used to indicate 

 a certain grass, which gives the characteristic brick-red colour to 

 various Transkeian localities, when the frost has dried up th^' 

 veld in the winter. 



Qwaninge is a root used whcTi death occurs in a kraal. 'I"he 

 root is eaten to ward off death. 



VI. — Named after Paris of the Body. 



This section appears to be small, but we are not to be 

 deceived by appearances. As a matter of fact, the natives are by 

 no means particular in their general .conversation ; indeed, the 

 utmost freedom obtains even concerning the most personal rela- 

 tionships in mixed company, and in consequence they have no 

 hesitation in naming places according to the caprice of evil sug- 

 gestion. Many of these are suppressed, fortunately, since in the 

 ].resence of the white man they are not mentioned, ihough there 

 can be little doubt that many such names do occur. We give a 

 few examples : — 



Amabele, Bele, Bedlana, and Belentombi, together with 

 Ncamhele and Ncambedlana, form one group and ring the changes 

 upon i-bcle, the female breast. Amabele, in the plural form, 

 indicates two hills suggesting that shape ; Bele, the second, is 

 applied to a high mountain in Tsolo District, which is a landmark 

 in the neighbourhood. Bedlana is diminutive, and tells of a small 

 h.ill; whiie Belentombi makes it ])lain that the female breast is 

 intended, for its Hteral meaning is " the girl's breasts." 



Neaiubcle is somewhat obscure, but apparently conies from 

 tlie words i-neam, the end or ];oint of a thing, and i-bele; and 

 ncambedlana has the same derivation, but is in the diniitiutive 

 form. 



Nkzvenkzvana suggests the likeness of a small boy. 



Oumbu is the name given to the large intestine of cattle. 



IX. — Names from Non-native Sources. 



In this concluding section we find many names worthy of 

 attention on account of their associations. Nevertheless «we 

 cannot but protest against the hopeless hybrids, some of which 

 are a blot on the landscape and a reproach to the map. 



One such is Willearw an attempt to be deprecated, which is 

 Tormed bv the fusion of" the two names of a distinguished mis- 

 sronary. Another is PahnhwiUc, more undesirable than tuifortu- 

 natc. and many others of the same type. 



Names like Somerznlle, Rainy, and Buchanan, and others 

 perpetuating the name of great divines, are far better in the 



