676 BANTU NEGROES 



There are three kinds of " doctors " in unsophisticated Uganda settle- 

 ments.* The "Musawo" is a real doctor, a man who has acquired a 

 knowledge of the curative power of certain herbs and plants, and who 

 knows how to treat ulcers, wounds, or skin diseases empirically, if not always 

 with practical benefit. The "Mulogo" has an evil reputation. He is said 

 to travel about at night stark naked, and is then believed — and believes 

 himself — to be in some respects a ghost or disembodied spirit. If he has 

 a spite against any one, he will dance naked at midnight before their 

 banana plantation. The trees will then become withered and the fruit 

 shrivel. The " Mulogo " has some power of self-hypnotism, and undoubtedly 

 exercises a mesmeric influence over weak-minded people. He is used as a 

 detective of criminals, and his aid is invoked when love charms are required 

 or when an injury to an enemy is to be worked by secret means. Before 

 the bulk of the people became converted to Christianity, the " Mulogo " 

 was often confounded with the priest, and carried on the worship of spirits. 

 There is also a class of individuals known as the "Mwabutwa." He is a 

 poisoner, either on his own account or for hire. 



The Baganda have a great belief in blood-letting as a relief to pain or 

 inflammation, or even as a prophylactic measure. The cupping is done 

 with a small antelope or goat horn that has a hole pierced at the tip. 

 The place where the cupping has to take place (on the back of the head, 

 back of the neck, or elsewhere on the body) is first of all scarified with a 

 razor. The mouth of the horn is then placed over the incisions, and the 

 blood-letter sucks hard through the tip of the horn. The blood of the 

 patient cannot enter the mouth of the man who operates because there is 

 a wad or coil of banana leaf fitted inside the horn. The Baganda also 

 believe that there is much good in both massage and sweating. Patients 

 suffering from dyspepsia have the stomach kneaded not only with the hands, 

 but actually trampled on with the feet. No doubt they occasionally cure 

 some small complaints by shutting themselves up in a small hut with a fire 

 and causing themselves to perspire freely. They profess to be acquainted 

 with native remedies for both syphilis and gonorrhoea ; and no doubt there is 

 something to be said for their treatment, if one may judge by the results 

 effected on those who submit to it. Many of their remedies are purely 

 empiric, but it is possible that the herbs, bark, and roots of which they make 

 their native medicines may often possess valuable therapeutic qualities. 



Theoretically, the whole of the Kingdom of Uganda is now converted to 

 Christianity in its Roman or Anglican forms, with the exception of about 



It is necessary to write " unsophisticated," because the manners and customs 

 of the people are changing so rapidly under the spread of European and Asiatic 

 civilisation that old beliefs and practices are fast disappearing in favour of more 

 enlightened procedure. 



