Chap. IX. THE ALUMBI FETICH. 199 



one only of my men was afflicted in tliis way, MouitcTii, 

 who became blind of one eye. One of Mayolo's 

 fathers-in-law was qnite blind from this disease. All 

 my Coinmi companions having thus got over the 

 danger, with the exception of Rapelina, who had not 

 had the disease, I was anxious only for Mayolo, whose 

 abscess was still slowly progressing and confined him 

 to his house. As the time approached for our de- 

 parture, a marked increase of attention and kindness 

 was noticeable on his pait. Every day a present of 

 eatables came to my hut cooked by his head wife ; 

 one day a plateful of yams, another day a dish of cas- 

 sava, and so forth. But I suspected a trick was being 

 played upon me, having recently become acquainted 

 with an African custom, of which I had not pre- 

 viously heard, and which consisted in serving, in 

 dishes given to a guest, powder from the skull of a 

 deceased ancestor, with a view to soften his heart in 

 the matter of parting presents. This custom is called 

 the alumhi. 



I had long known of the practice of preserving 

 in a separate hut the skulls of ancestors, but did 

 not know of this particular use of the relics. In 

 fact, a person might travel in Afi'ica for years 

 without becoming aware of this singular custom, 

 as no negro will divulge to you the whole details 

 of such a matter, even should he be one of your best 

 friends. 



Most travellers in this part of the continent are 

 puzzled to know the meaning of certain miniature 

 huts which are seen standing behind or between the 

 dwelling-houses, and Avhich are held sacred. No one 



