25-1 HOMH 'I'lllllM, (tllHTOMK IN TMVAM. HKI.ATION TD MKDICINK AND MOUAI,S 



IMdijil Iii'iiIIhtIhkmI is a very intimate relationship, not, lij^'litly (•nt(!rocl into, since the 

 initiat(^il iu-(! ndt only bound mutually to suppoi't anrl aid (^acii oIIhm', hut nvc. presumed to 

 have an alTmity in lu'alth, (lisoaHo and vitality which gives this most excellent custojii mi 

 intcrestr and inipnitanco niccncally wliich it mij^ht Jiot otherwise possess. 



dllKlilKI-lflll (if llfl'lls 



Thr mystic ritual loi' the {•.\pulsi(jn of "devils," prevalent anion;; tlir Arahs, has no 

 (■i|iiival('nt with tln^sci p('oj)l(!, who are contiiut to (il't'cct tlu; same (^nds hy the simpler 

 means of drugs, charms and spells. 



■.Siicril'iK-s" Sacri.Jlcru 

 ■sa elaljoralt' 



.11 "Hy' 



Clianiis for 



Nur ilo l\\r N\iUii iiyani and (lour oticr up iJic claliorat-c saci-iliccs of cattlr ami sheep 

 Id propitiate olfeniled spirits as do the Dinkas, Khilluks, and others. 'I'his is of coiii'se 

 arccountod for hy the entire absence of domestic animals (save dogs and fowls) in a, eoimlry 

 rendered impossihle for tliem hy the deatli-dealing tsetse ily. 



l''o\vls, usually in association with the lienga l{it,e,, form thi^ '"dy sacrifices of these 

 people. 



Cll.VUMK 



(ihainis called Bagara (Nijam-nyaw), Tok {(tinir) (vidr. I'late Will.), amongst thesi', 

 as amongst all savage and semi-civilised pi!o])le [riile 'I'fiinI R.cj)nrt, Wellcome Tropical 

 Research Lulinriihiriai, Khailoimi, ["njc 2Blj, play a most im|ioila.iit jiart in their customs 

 and V(^ry existence. Not only fidiii a, medical standpoint, hut possessing as they do a potent 

 inlluence and ri'straint over their general conduct and dealings with one another, they 

 hecomi^ indirectly a vcu'y decided factor for good throughout the eDinmunit^ . iji\ ingstone 

 draws attenl/ion to this when he says, "The belief in the |iower of charms for good or 

 evil jiroduces not only honesty, hut a great amount of gentle dealing the powerful -aw. 

 often restrained in Iheir despotism from a fcuir that the weak and helpless may iiijuit' 

 I hem li\ their medienl knowledge." 



Ill tJieir "medicine," charms are undoulitedly the most- importa.nt- factors for the 

 prupliyla.vis pr(i|i|i ^ lax is, if Hot, also ill tlie curc^ of diseases. 



" i'revention is better than curi' " is an unwritten, i^ven unrealised, iiistincti\'e iiiollo 

 of the savage, and so, in order to avoid the thousand and one ills that "flesh is heir to," 

 he docomtos himself with charms, prescribed Vjy recognised authorities, collected hy 

 himself or lioridwcd tiom his Mohammedan brethren.' 



Again, lo ipioti^ Livingstone on Central Afi'ica, "'i'heir icligion ... is one of 

 dread, uuiuluM's of charms are employed to avert the evils with which they feel themselves 

 to be eiunimpasscnl. OccaBionally you nuH't a man more; cautious than the rest with twcmty 

 or thiily clianiis hung louiid his neck, on the piinei|ile that among so many he sui'ely 

 must have the right- one." 



Most oruanK^nts too, besides holding a position in Ihi^ " cU^cency of dress" sihmu 

 gradually lo liiuti attained a superstitious signilicance in the savage mind, as gems, 

 trinki'ts, mascots, and the like do over the savage remnant in (jurselves. Thus the 

 Mu^ii' (lours, an effeminate and more highly decorated people than the Nyam-nyam, wear every 



variety of ornament, rings, eari'iiigs, anklets, and bracelets (^oide I'late XVlll.), whic^h ai'e 

 presmniMl, by adding charm to the body, to give it health, strength a,iid iiun'eased vitality. 

 (indirectly they are right.) The Dinkas and Shilluks hold the same idea as regards their 

 heavy ivory arndots and woven giratfe-hair neckbands, which are very hard to obtain 

 on that account (Plate XVIII., fig. 1). 



attiilmti-. Ill 

 Mrn.iincnts 



