FETISHISM. 307 



one suspected of possessing it may, in order to 

 clear themselves, be obliged to pass the "red Avater 

 ordeal." The "red water" is a decoction made 

 from the roots of the nkazya bush, pounded in a 

 mortar, and steeped for some time in water. It 

 sometimes acts as an emetic, sometimes a narcotic 

 (perhaps according to its strength), and the tribe 

 having assembled, the party accused is made to 

 swallow a bowl of this mixture, and he is judged 

 according to the effect the poison shows upon him. 

 If he vomits and retains his self-possession, he is 

 declared innocent, and can oblige his accusers to 

 go through the same ordeal ; but if he becomes 

 giddy, and staggers from vertigo, he is immediately 

 immolated, men, women and children taking part 

 in the deed, at the same time howling and yelling 

 like fiends. Some of their other superstitions are 

 very strange; they believe sleep to be the with- 

 drawal of the spirit from the body, and if a man 

 wakes up in the morning feeling aches and pains, 

 be believes that his spirit, whilst wandering during 

 the night, has fallen down, or been hurt whilst 

 fighting with other spirits. They believe that 

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