PRACTICES TO OBTAIN CHILDREN 121 



wear an amulet called the mapingo composed of two 

 tiny horns of duiker, in the hope that they may bear 

 children. 1 Among the Kaffirs of South Africa an 

 amulet to remove the reproach of a childless woman is 

 made by the medicine-man of the clan from the tail- 

 hairs of a heifer. The heifer must be given to the 

 husband by one of the wife's kinsmen for the purpose ; 

 and the charm when made is hung round the wife's 

 neck. 2 The intention here seems to be to transfer the 

 fertility of the animal to the woman. On the other 

 hand the Northern Basuto of the Transvaal lay the 

 fault of childlessness on the husband. He has done 

 to death by witchcraft one of his kin, or committed 

 some other wrong towards the dead man, who is there- 

 fore angry. After consulting a wizard and ascertain- 

 ing to whom the evil is to be ascribed, he goes to the 

 grave, acknowledges his fault, prays to the dead for 

 forgiveness, and takes back from the tomb a stone, a 

 twig, or some other object, which he carries about, or 

 deposits in his courtyard, as a fetish or an amulet. If 

 he duly honour it, it will restore the good understand- 

 ing between the deceased and himself, and give him 

 the benefit he desires. 3 



Phallic images have special importance as amulets. 

 In the interior of Western Africa, over the border 

 of Angola, on the way from Malange, barren women 

 have been found wearing on a string round the body 

 two little carved ivory figures representing the two 

 sexes. 4 The phalli worn by Italian women are 



1 J. A. I. xxxvi. 154. 



2 Theal, 201. The Barotse have also amulets to obtain children 

 (Beguin, 124). In fact the custom is universal in Africa. 



3 Ploss, Weib. i. 439. 4 Ploss, loc. cit. 



