354 SUPERSTITIONS 



called in and his aid requisitioned to produce rain 

 or other atmospheric phenomena. These last- 

 named duties require days and sometimes weeks 

 of preparation. He is preparing, in fact, until it 

 is perfectly apparent that rain is at hand. If much 

 delay should occur, he explains that his charms 

 have taken longer than usual to work owing to the 

 hostile influence of some malevolent wizard whose 

 identity he already suspects. He then looks darkly 

 round, and gives out that he will shortly proceed 

 to identify the miscreant who has been prolonging 

 the drought. His relations with the more in- 

 fluential members of the community now suddenly 

 cool, so that they are filled with anxiety lest 

 denunciation should overtake them, and load the 

 dreaded seer with handsome gifts. Finally he 

 pitches upon some unfortunate too aged or world- 

 weary to make too vigorous a defence. There is 

 now no hope. The poison ordeal must be 

 administered, and the astute Nganga takes good 

 care that, for his own reputation's sake as a diviner, 

 the accused cannot possibly recover. Of course at 

 times the people grow impatient at the non- 

 appearance of rain in response to the Nganga's 

 "preparations," but even in such a case the re- 

 sourceful expert may say that the white men are 

 working against him, that his fee has been con- 

 sidered insufficient, or that he is wrestUng with the 

 charms of powerful and envious rivals. He need 

 never be at a loss for an explanation. Nobody can 

 contradict him, and, in any case, he is far too 

 formidable a person with whom to enter into direct 

 conflict. There is, as I have said, probably no 



