TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 809 



rites and the sanguinary ceremonies of the ancient Mexicans, and the dissimilarity 

 in the forms of the Navajo and Mexican g-ods as denoting an entirely different 

 origin for the two religions, incompatible with the belief, commonly entertained, of 

 the wholly indigenous character of American culture, and believes that the Navajo 

 rites point unmistakably to an Eastern origin. 



8. East Central African Customs. By Rev. James Macdonald. 



The author introduced the subject by a reference to the great dispersion iu the 

 plain of Shinar, and the tenacity with which man had clung to the slender stock 

 of ideas in the land of his strangership. 



The customs dealt with ranged over the whole domestic and social life of the 

 people. He began by an account of trial by ordeal which is universal in the Lake 

 region. The trial begins in open Court when evidence is led, but as it never occurs 

 to anyone to tell the truth, the cause is usually decided by the accused drinking the 

 poison bowl. K he vomits the poison he is innocent, even should he' have been 

 caught red-handed. There are times when the poison bowl is administered to 

 large numbers by the magicians. This is to weed out thieves, wizards, and other 

 undetected criminals. 



At puberty boys are circumcised, and girls go through a process of initiation 

 into womanhood. The former are now men, and discard all labour for the duties 

 of war and hunting. 



A man who wishes to form a new village community selects a site and 

 strengthens his position by inducing others to join their fortunes to his ; by the 

 purchase of slaves ; marrying slave wives, and raiding with the view of capturing 

 slaves. When he has established bis position, the village is recognised by the 

 chief and comes under the general tribal laws and customs. 



Under these laws a man holds as many slaves as he can capture or purchase. 

 They are his absolute property, and the law permits a man to kill a slave, but should 

 he do so unjustly, ' the flesh will melt off' his bones and he will die.' Slaves have 

 a quasi right to property, and often get rich under their masters. Should they be 

 sold or die, the property reverts to the master. 



Slaves and all property, as well as tribal and governing rights, descend not to 

 a man's sons, but to his brother, the son of his own mother, or, failing that, to his 

 sister's son. This is to make sure that the family blood is in his veins. Wives, 

 like slaves, may be had by purchase, by presentation, or by raiding. An unborn 

 infant may be — conditionally — betrothed ; children of a fe vv days old frequently are. 



In all public undertakings the oracle must be consulted by means of divination. 

 This may be by poiuing out flour, which if it forms a perfect cone is favourable, 

 or by shakuig the contents of a gourd, teeth, pebbles, &c., and throwing them 

 down as dice. Even after the omen is favourable, a rabbit or snake crossing the 

 path on the first day stops the expedition. 



Magicians have absolute power, and are in requisition in connection with every 

 detail of life. They practise medicine, detect witches, protect crops, and generally 

 are responsible for the conduct of all work during peace and war. The most for- 

 midable among them is the tribal prophetess. She sees the gods face to face, and 

 dreams dreams which pertain to revelation. Her oracles are received without 

 question, and when she orders a human sacrifice no one dare refuse her demands. 



She travels about the country detecting wizards who cause sickness. This she 

 does by assembling the whole community, and, after shouting and ranting among 

 the crowd, touching each one's hand. The wizard's hand when touched is known 

 to her, and he is summarily disposed of, but not before she has proved his guilt. 

 This she does by finding the ' horns.' These are generally the horns of a small 

 antelope, which are par excelleiice witches' horns. She finds the horns by ascending 

 beside the stream, passing the patient's house, and at a certain spot, after much 

 ceremony, digging them from the ground. She, meantime, has spent the previous 

 night in the open air listening to spirit voices, while the villagers, on pain of being 

 accused of witchcraft, must remain indoors. When she orders a human sacrifice 



