MoDjADjE, A Native Queen. 245 



Her Witch-Work and Ancestor-Worship. 



About an hour's distance from the chief kraal, on a high moun- 

 tain, an impenetrable thicket is found, in which Modjadje's chief 

 witch-doctor and high priest resides. His duty is to make sacrifices 

 at the three great feasts to the gods, i.e., the forefathers of the 

 dynasty, who are buried there. This was done (i) just before they 

 intended to pick the gardens ; (2) at New Year, i.e., when they started 

 to eat green mealies and the first pumpkins ; and (3) in the beginning 

 of the harvest. 



The preliminary arrangements for such a feast were somewhat 

 as follows : A great number of young girls in an entirely naked condi- 

 tion, carried big pots of beer to the aforesaid bush. In front of 

 them went a number of men with horns, whistles, and drums, to give 

 notice to the inhabitants of the country that the procession had 

 started, so that everyone on the way might hide himself in time. 

 Everybody who was seen by them on the way was murdered without 

 mercy. They also took a black ox with them as a sacrifice. This 

 animal was killed at the graves, and the best parts of the meat were 

 handed over to the priest, who lived in a hut in the midst of the 

 bush. This fellow also received part of the beer which was to be- 

 poured on the graves of the old kings. But very often they acted 

 dishonestly towards the ghosts with the libation — drink. So one (jf 

 my evangelists, who formerly had to act as a substitute in pouring the 

 beer on the graves in this bush, told me that he only dedicated the 

 dregs to the forefathers, and had the lion's share for himself. And 

 when, through the effect of the enormous quantity he had drunk, he 

 was unable to find his way back, he pretended that he was fuddled 

 by the breath of the ghosts. The prayer the priest used in the act of 

 pouring is worded something like this : " Mokakolo, Seale and Petole 

 (these are the names of the former chiefs), look here ! We bring you 

 meat from our herds and beverage from our harvest ; receive it and be 

 ye joyful and merry. But now cause ye the country to be at peace, 

 and unmolested by any enemy. Keep ye away all diseases from our 

 fields, and give us wives and beer in abundance." When this act 

 has been completed, it is brought to the knowledge of the country by 

 beating drums and blowing of horns. Lastly, this was followed by a 

 banquet to the gods, and a love-feast finished the ceremony. They 

 eat and drink till all is finished. After the procession has again 

 reached the capital, the members start piping and squeaking in every 

 hollow and bush in a most melancholy way. Women and children 

 hide themselves, for, according to their belief, these are the voices of 

 the gods approaching them. 



On the next day a big drum in the chief kraal proclaims either (i) 

 the commencement of work in the gardens, or (2) the right to eat green 

 mealies, or (3) the beginning of the harvest. The nearest village 

 which is reached by the sound of the drum forwards the message to 

 the next, and so the drumming noise goes through the whole country ; 

 at the same time they make a noise, whistle, and dance, that one 

 might think the devil with his whole herd has burst forth. 



