366 SUPERSTITIONS 



To meet a number of young girls is a fortunate 

 circumstance, whilst a single female, especially if 

 she be enceinte, is a serious matter. 



Rapid, nervous contraction of the right eye-lid 

 foretells a pleasing sight during the day. 



If a lion be seen and retires noiselessly it is a 

 good omen ; but if it growl, it is a forewarning of 

 death. 



A screech-owl on the roof of a hut is a sign of 

 misfortune, as is also the hooting several nights in 

 succession of the common barn-owl. 



If a thunderbolt fall in a village, or if it be 

 struck by hghtning, it must be immediately aban- 

 doned. 



A tortoise in the path, or the appearance of a 

 porcupine, is an excellent indication. 



Pied kingfishers flying across the bow of a canoe 

 are certain precursors of evil. 



There are doubtless many more superstitions of 

 a similar kind, but the foregoing are current all 

 over Zambezia in one part or another. 



Among certain of the A-Nyanja people, and 

 I beheve also the A-Mahindo, beHef in the 

 spirits of trees and waters is prevalent. They 

 also think that the latter are worshipped by 

 hippopotami, and that when at midday many of 

 these animals may be seen congregated in a 

 pool or on a sand-bank, they are praying to the 

 water spirits to show them the way to their 

 favourite food. 



Charms and amulets are extensively worn, and 

 imphcitly beheved in. They usually take the 

 form of small pieces of twig or bark, or the wood 



