iv.] RELIG10 US ST A TE. 117 



their evil influences, they serve one good purpose by giving 

 almost as much security to property in countries without 

 any police, or civil or international law, except those of 

 custom and tradition, as can be found in the most civilized 

 countries. Witness the case of our traveller's waggon and 

 box left for months without protection. A fear of charms, 

 incantations, or witchcraft, so rooted in the native mind, 

 helped powerfully to protect these, as it does the beehives 

 in the forests of Londa. 



On the dark side of the a t uestion, they cause murders, 

 tortures, and frauds, helping to display, with a photographic 

 hideousness of detail, the depraved deformity of the natural 

 mind when not converted, purified, and lighted by the 

 Spirit of the living God. 



The Barotse have persons in charge of the 

 So th Af ' relics at Santura's tomb, who are supported 

 tribes have a by voluntary contributions 1 . 



shadow of a Sacrifice is almost unknown in the south. 



priest -hood ; 



and a notion of This with Votive Offerings is common in 



the efficacy of more northern re <ri ns. 



Sacrifice : as y 



well as practise Our traveller in various parts found traces 



circumcision, of human sacrifices. 



and celebrate ... . . 



religious rites Circumcision is very generally enjoined 



and ceremo- anc { rigidly practised among the South African 

 tribes. 

 These people, in some parts, are so absurdly extravagant 

 in religious and funeral ceremonies, as to ruin themselves, 

 rather than not make a display. 



,™ The positions assumed at the head of this 



pie in general paragraph appear to be anomalous, but thev 



strongly object are never theless true. 



to praying and 



religious ser- Our traveller relates that sometimes, be- 



vices : but still f ore ^ e close of a religious service among the 

 evince a readi- ° . ° 



nessforthe re- Makololo, the women would jostle and scold 



1 Travels, p. 219. 



18 



