120 PRIMITIVE PATERNITY 



among the Moorish women of Morocco. 1 On the 

 Upper Niger the women of certain tribes wear about 

 their loins a score or so of leathern strings, whence are 

 suspended small figures, cast in copper and represent- 

 ing tortoises, lizards or horses. These are amulets 

 which, it is said, have the virtue of giving many 

 children. 2 In German territory on the other side of 

 the continent the Masai women hold a solemn festival 

 of prayer for children. They assemble with a wizard 

 or medicine-man, and each receives from him an 

 amulet to hang from the girdle of her skin-apron. 

 Then he sprinkles them on head and shoulders with a 

 medicine composed of milk, honey-beer, and another 

 secret ingredient, in return for which he is rewarded 

 with a payment in sheep. The rest of the day is 

 spent in dancing and singing, the burden of the songs 

 being a prayer for children. Another amulet believed 

 to promote conception is also worn by Masai women 

 round the neck. 3 The Warundi, who, like the Masai, 

 inhabit German territory, are prolific and anxious to 

 have children. They too make use of amulets ; these 

 are of various kinds of native wood, but how prepared 

 we are not told. 4 Among the Baganda every woman 

 who wishes for a large family wears a musist, or 

 multiplier. It consists of a ball of white clay with a 

 piece of tanned hide sewed round it. 5 The Awemba 

 women between Lakes Tanganyika and Bangweolo 



1 Ploss, Weib, i, 437. 



2 Binger, i. 250. 3 Marker, 201, 202. 

 4 van der Burgt, 85 (art. Mariage). 



6 Cunningham, 253. Men sometimes wear this amulet because 

 it gives courage. Another amulet called magalo " facilitated the 

 begetting of children." It seems also to have been used for 

 divination (Ibid. 255). 



