42 Mr. Morgan's Account of the Amakosac, 



whom it belonjrs. Before tlicy attack an clepliant they shout to 

 it, and ask pardon for the intended slauejhtcr, professing: great 

 submission to his person, and stating the necessity of their 

 having his tusks to enable them to procure beads, &c., and to 

 supply their wants. AVhen they kill one they deposit a few of 

 the articles they have obtained for the ivory, along with the end 

 of his trunk, in the ground, which they think saves them from 

 some danger that would otherwise befal them. 



When a woman has twins two cuphorbium trees are planted 

 before the hut, and by the growth of them they pretend to 

 know whether the children will both live or die ; for if one or 

 Ijoth of the trees should perish so they say will happen to the 

 twins. 



They believe that the spirits of deceased persons visit the 

 place of their former abode, and that they often appear to 

 sarviving friends. This is the reason they assign for destroying* 

 his dwelling, and removing the village on ths death of any 

 person. In various parts of the country great heaps of stones 

 arc observed, and those that pass by always throw a stone or 

 some substance on the heap. They assign no reason, nor are 

 they conscious that any necessity exists, for their doing so. — 

 They are equally ignorant of the origin of these tumuli. The 

 first time they cross over a running stream they stop in the 

 middle and drink of it, first throwing into it a small branch of a 

 particular tree which they take care to provide themselves with 

 before they come to the river. 



They drink the gall of the ox, stating that it makes 

 them fierce and inspires them with couiagc. The method of 

 killing their cattle is by throwing them down on their back, and 

 making an incision through the integument below the sternum : 

 by this they introduce the hand, and passing it below the 

 stomach they appear to tear asunder the blood vessels that are 

 in the abdomen. The breast is the perquisite of the King or 

 principal Chief, and they often carry it a great way for his use. 

 Some particular parts arc abstained from by females at stated 

 times ; and on the death of any relation, or of an husband or 

 wife, the survivor is also prohibited by custom from eating some 

 portion of the beast. 



When any person is sick and supposed past recovery, they 

 assemble round him and keep \ip a constant noise by knocking 

 on dried hides and singing. Sometimes he requests to be con- 

 veyed into the bush that he may not be disturbed by the grief 

 of surrounding relations. If this is complied with they attend 

 him constantly until he dies, but if the disease is supposed to 

 be contagious they leave him to his fate. On the death of the 

 husband or wife the survivor leaves the kraal, avoids society, 

 and retires into the bush. They live thus for one or two moons. 



