PLATE XVII 



/nches t 3 J -t -■' f 



bx^rrrti I I I I =i 



1. Salt and (iruj^ Iiorn. 



2, 3. Gour whistles used to attract game and drive ofT 



evil spirits. In the whistle is kept a jj^easy feather 

 for cosmetic use. 

 4. Oracle or divining board of the Nyam-nyam tribt.-. 

 (/'VV/r- a/sn Vig. 79.) Kmployed by their witch- 

 doctors. Tribal questions, questions of life and 

 death, guilt and innocence, diagnosis of health and 

 disease, etc., are settled by this oracle. The surfaces 

 of the plates having been copiously wetted with 

 saliva and the juice of a certain berry, divination is 

 accomplished by the doctor striking the handle on 

 the smaller plate sharply with each question put, the 



lower part being held firm. If it moves readily over 

 the body plate, "yes" is signified; when it sticks, 

 "no." Propitious d.ates. numbers, etc, are told in 

 like manner — the date or number at which the plates 

 cohere being the one selected. 



Ti. Nyam-nyam witch-doctor's knife used for blood-letting, 

 etc. 



fi. (Jiraffe hairs used as sutures. 



7, S. Nyam-nyam stringed musical instruments used as a 

 pastime and also in devil-dancing and divination, 

 minus the gourd sounding board. 



y. Nyam-nyam witch-doctor's switch, which seems to 

 be a badge of office. 



