654 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 



carrier passes the foot on from carrier to carrier so that the 

 original taker may not be known. In this way it may be 

 carried far aiiekl. And to make sure that the person's death 

 be accomplished, the thing- taken may be divided, one part 

 given to one " yolnurfdv " and one to another. 



There is some obscm'ity about the meaning of the term. 

 In this dialect numa nurult is a dead leaf fallen from a tree. 

 In Kwamera dialect the word is nahak. In the west dialect 

 it is netuli. Tisei is the term used of the "nuruker" putting 

 the thing in the tire. Teserik itami is to burn a person's 

 nuruk. And the word for a scorpion is yeaerih. These 

 words are evidently from two roots, es and erik. That erik 

 and nelhki (foot) are from the same root may be fairly 

 assumed. Yet the form may be accidental ; hence, teles 

 nelhki t(imi may not mean " he takes a person's foot," but, 

 " he takes a person's nunlk." The scorpion's tail is like a 

 ntiruk when ready for burning. The word nuruk in some 

 of its meanings might be translated refuse. 



When the " refuse " is put into the hands of the " nfiruker " 

 he is told whose it is, and instructions are given to him as to 

 the length of illness wished. He now takes certain leaves, 

 known to him only, and breaks these ver}^ small, and in the 

 same way the refuse. Then all are thoroughly mixed, as 

 cookery books tell us. The Nuruk stone is now rubbed with 

 this and transferred to a basket just above the fire. The 

 prepared " refuse " is put in leaves and tied in shape like a 

 rolly-poly pudding. The length depends on the duration of 

 the sickness. One end is put in the fire and the "nuruker" 

 watches it day and night. If it is burning too quickly, he 

 withdraws it. He may even take it out for a day or two to 

 give his victim respite or time to go and search for his Niiruk ; 

 for when the Nuruk is not burning he may recover some- 

 what. The instant the Nfirtik is all consumed, the victim's 

 sickness proves fatal. 



The object of taking a person's Nuriik varies. A Nuriik- 

 burner may covet the pig or gun of another man. He gets 

 his "refuse" taken, and then takes care that his victim shall 

 know it. The price of taking the Niiruk out of the fire is 

 the coveted article, which is given. Some one may simply 

 wish to torment a man, and he takes his Nuruk. In other 

 cases a victim's death is desired ; then it is not easy to trace 

 the Nurvlk. For weeks the matter may be talked about 

 and no end of stuft' paid to trace the Niiruk. When traced 

 sometimes the Niiruk is brought back to the victim, but 



