344 THE ORDEAL ROOT OF GOUMBI. 



strings were supplied to the East African Expedition by the Banyans of 

 Zanzibar), preferred 1 khete of same same to 3 of khanyera. The kidunduguru 

 is a dull brick-red bead, worth at Zanzibar from 5 to 7 dollars per frasilah, 

 but little prized in the interior, where it is derisively termed khanyera ya 

 mk'hundu. Another red variety of Lafizi is called merkani ; it is finely 

 made to resemble the same same, and costs from 7 to 11 dollars per frasilah. 

 Of this bead there are four several subdivisions. The uzanzawira or samuli 

 (glue-coloured) is a bright yellow porcelain, worth at Zanzibar from 7 to 9 

 dollars per frasilah. It is in demand throughout Chhaga and the Masai 

 country, but is rarely seen on the central line. 



6. The sukoli, an orange-coloured or rhubarb-tinted porcelain, which 

 average at Zanzibar from 7 to 9 dollars. They are prized in Usagara and 

 Ugogo, but are little worn in other places. 



9. The nili (green) or ukiti wa muazi coco-leaves are little beads of 

 transparent green glass ; they are of three sizes, the smallest of which is 

 called kikiti. The Zanzibar price is from 6 to 11 dollars. In Ujiji they 

 are highly valued, and are readily taken in small quantities throughout the 

 central line. 



11. The lungenya or lak'hio is a coarse red porcelain, valued at 5 to 6 

 dollars in Zanzibar, and now principally exported to Uruwwa and the 

 innermost regions of Central Africa. 



12. The bubu (ububu ?), also called ukumwi and usthanga ya vipande, are 

 black Venetians, dull dark porcelain, ranging at Zanzibar from 5 to 7 

 dollars. They are of fourteen sizes — large, medium, and small ; the latter 

 are the most valued. These beads are taken by the Wazaramo. In East 

 Usazara and Unyamwezi they are are called khuni, or firewood; nor will they 

 be received in barter, except when they excite a temporary caprice. 



The other beads, occasionally met with, are the sanketi, ovals of white 

 or garnet-red, prized in Khutu ; choroko or magiyo, dull-green porcelains ; 

 undriyo maupe (?), mauve-coloured, round or oval ; undriyo mausi (?), dark 

 lavender ; asinani, sky-coloured glass ; and pusange, blue Bohemian glass 

 beads, cut into facets. The people of the coast also patronise a variety of 

 large fancy articles, flowered, shelled, and otherwise ornamented : these, 

 however, rarely find their way into the interior. — (' Burton's Lake Regions 

 of Central Africa.') 



THE ORDEAL ROOT OF GOUMBI. 



BY PAUL B. DU CHAILLU. 



The niboundou is an intoxicating poison, which is believed by the people 

 of Goumbi, Gaboon river, to confer on the drinker, if it do not kill him, the 

 power of divination. It is much tised in all this part of the country to try 

 persons accused of witchcraft. A poor fellow is supposed to have bewitched 



