40O BANTU METHODS OF DIVINATION. 



The system which is most widely known is that of 



ASTRAGALOMAXCV. 



In this system the witch-doctor provides himself with a set of 

 astragali or huckle-bones of various animals. These bones are 

 convenient in shape and size, and they are still used in Russia, 

 Italy, and other countries ior playing various games. In South 

 Africa the Boers call them " dol-ossen," or to}' oxen, and this 

 word has been retained in the phrase " dol-ossen o'ooi," which 

 is equivalent to the English " Consult the oracle." 



As a rule the set contains the astragali of the totem animals 

 of the neighbouring tribes. In the case of larger animals some 

 other bone or part of the body is used to replace the huckle- 

 bone. Thus in the case of the lion, one of the i)halanges is 

 usually chosen, and parts of the carapace of dififerent species of 

 tortoise are commonly seen. A set in my possession contains 

 a fretted bone ornament which was called " tlo " {i.e., elephant), 

 as it was supposed to Ije made of ivory, but in practice I was 

 told that it represented " the white man," because it had been 

 obtained from a European trader (Plate 8. Sekukuni set). From 

 what we know of magic and totemism. it is clear that each bone 

 or object in the set represents the animal of w'hich it once formed 

 part, and hence the tribe of i<'hich that animal is totem; and in 

 the case of the " tk) " we have a good example of '" contagious " 

 magic, since it stands for the white man, with whom, at one 

 time, it had been in contact. 



The oracle is consulted in the following manner : — 



1. Certain roots are chewed by the diviner. 



2. The astragali are gathered up between the i)alms of the 



two hands. 



3. The diviner blows or si)its upon them, and utters a short 



incantation or formula calling upon the " bones " to 

 reveal the answer to the question given. 



4. The " lx)nes " are then cast upon the ground before the 



scjuatting .seer, and an answer gleaned from the ])osition 

 they assume. 



It will be seen that the sides of each huckle-bone can be 

 distinguished, as they differ in cotUour and general sha})e. The 

 dift'erent aspects are named in accordance with the rules of 

 magic. Thus, for exami)le, if the huckle-bone of one of the 

 Bovida- be examined, it will be seen that two of the sides pro- 

 ject towards one end rather more than the other; and if it be 

 held against the liglil with these projecting sides ui)permost. a 

 rotigh likeness to tlie silhouette of an animal's head with ears 

 erect will be obtained. Tliis end. therefore, is regarded as the 

 " head " of the " bone." In like manner the convex and concave 

 faces are called the " back " and " bell\- " res])ectively. 



When the "bones" are thrown, they may fall with the 

 "head" facing either towards or away from the operator, and 

 with one or other of these faces uppermost. In reading the 



