SORCERY AND WITCHCRAFT. 45 



flourishing their spears. They shout and laugh wildly, 

 and do all in their power to provoke a fight. If 

 there is any old grudge between the two tribes they 

 tight savagely, and sometimes two or three may 

 be killed; but if they are met merely to 'give satis- 

 faction ' for the injury done to the dead man, the fight 

 is interrupted after a few spears are thrown by some 

 old man, who declares that enough has been done. If 

 the old men on both sides agree, the hostile tribes again 

 mingle on friendly terms, and there is an end of the 

 business, for the death has been avenged." 



There are three forms of sorcery, says Mr. Curr, 

 called " millin," " ngathungi," and " neilyeri." 



Millin. A big-headed club called " plongge " is 

 used entirely for millin. A mere touch from it is the 

 cause of disease and death. They sometimes knock 

 down an enemy, then tap his chest with the plongge, 

 hit him with it on his shoulders and knees, and pull 

 his ears till they crack. He is then called plonyge 

 wategeri. He is now, by this means, given to the 

 power of a demon called Nalkaru, who will create 

 disease in his chest, or cause him to be speared in bat- 

 tle or bitten by a snake. Very frequently the plongge 

 is used upon a person sleeping. It is warmed, and the 

 chest of the sleeper is gently tapped. Such an one is 

 sure to have, as they think, disease of the chest. If 



