204 THROUGH ANGOLA 



libations of palm wine and gifts of food ; it may be 

 beaten at another to stimulate it to better action ; 

 and it will be despised and thrown away if it 

 ceases to bring the required success. It is the 

 favourite of the moment, and may be treated like 

 all favourites in misfortune. 



There are some fetishes, those of big chiefs 

 and witch doctors, which may acquire a great 

 reputation, and are hired out at heavy cost to 

 different temporary owners. 



Fetish houses, the miniature huts seen near 

 villages, are a kind of communal charm where the 



o 7 



evil spirit afflicting a village may be induced to 

 retire and cease from persecution by illness, 

 drought, or famine. 



Fetishes are used for as many different purposes 

 as they are different in shape, size, and origin. 

 They are the medium to avert evil spirits from 

 the owner or to transfer such evil to an enemy. 

 They will propitiate the spirits of child-bearing, 

 of health or prosperity, of hunting and fishing 

 successes, and of disease or desire ; they become 

 ministers to every human emotion and ambition ; 

 behind them there stands their creator, all-powerful, 

 cunning, cruel, and unscrupulous the witch doctor. 



Is it any wonder that this particular class of 

 the African doctor group is rarely in need of 

 fields, or cattle, or harem ? Slowly but surely 

 the light of reason and logic is forcing its way 

 into the African's mental darkness ; but the 

 craft of the doctors is highly organized ; they are 

 powerful, and superstition dies hard. It is most 

 diilicult to free the negro from his bondage to 



