46 SUPERSTITIONS OF AFRICANS. Chap. II. 



town between the ranges of hills north and south, which appear 

 to have a strong attraction for the rain- clouds. It is often seen 

 to rain on these hills when not a drop falls at Tette. Our first 

 season was one of drought. Thrice had the women planted 

 their gardens in vain, the seed, after just vegetating, was 

 killed by the intense dry heat. A fourth planting shared the 

 same hard fate, and then some of the knowing ones discovered 

 the cause of the clouds being frightened away : our unlucky 

 rain-gauge in the garden. We got a bad name through 

 that same rain-gauge, and were regarded by many as a 

 species of evil omen. The Makololo in turn blamed the 

 people of Tette for drought: "A number of witches live here, 

 who won't let it rain." Africans in general are sufficiently 

 superstitious, but those of Tette are in this particular pre- 

 eminent above their fellows. Coming from many different 

 tribes, all the rays of the separate superstitions converge 

 into a focus at Tette, and burn out common sense from the 

 minds of the mixed breed. They believe that many evil 

 spirits live in the air, the earth, and the water. These 

 invisible malicious beings are thought to inflict much suffer- 

 ing on the human race ; but, as they have a weakness for 

 beer and a craving for food, they may be propitiated from 

 time to time by offerings of meat and drink. The serpent is 

 an object of worship, and hideous little images are hung 

 in the huts of the sick and dying. The uncontaminated 

 Africans believe that Morungo, the Great Spirit who formed 

 all things, lives above the stars ; but they never pray to him, 

 and know nothing of their relation to him, or of his interest 

 in them. The spirits of their departed ancestors are all good, 

 according to their ideas, and on special occasions aid them 

 in their enterprises. When a man has his hah' cut, he is 

 careful to bum it, or bury it secretly, lest, falling into the 



