ORDEAL. 



357 



absurd, and barbarous, as the red water of Ashanti, the 

 venoms of Kasanji (Cassange), the muavi of the Banyai 

 tribes of Monomotapa, the Tangina poison of the Mala- 

 gash, the bitter water of the Jews, the " saucy- water " 

 of West Africa, and the fire tests of mediaeval Europe. 

 The people of Usumbara thrust a red-hot hatchet into 

 the mouth of the accused. Among the south-eastern 

 tribes a heated iron spike, driven into some tender part 

 of the person, is twice struck with a log of wood. The 

 Wazaramo dip the hand into boiling water, the Waganda 

 into seething oil ; and the Wazegura prick the ear with 

 the stiffest bristles of a gnu's tail. The Wakwafi have 

 an ordeal of meat that chokes the guilty. The Wan- 

 yamwezi pound with water between two stones, and 

 infuse a poisonous bark called " Mwavi : " it is first 

 administered by the Mganga to a hen, who, for the 

 nonce, represents the suspected. If, however, all parties 

 be not satisfied with such trial, it is duly adhibited to 

 the accused. 



In East Africa, from Somaliland to the Cape, and 

 throughout the interior amongst the negroids and negroes 

 north as well as south of the equator, the rain-maker or 

 rain-doctor is a personage of consequence; and he does not 

 fail to turn the hopes and fears of the people to his own 

 advantage. A season of drought causes dearth, disease, and 

 desolation amongst these improvident races, who there- 

 fore connect every strange phenomenon with the object 

 of their desires, a copious wet monsoon. The enemy 

 has medicines which disperse the clouds. The stranger 

 who brings with him heavy showers is regarded as a 

 being of good omen ; usually, however, the worst is ex- 

 pected from the novel portent ; he will, for instance, be 

 accompanied and preceded by fertilising rains, but the 

 wells and springs will dry up after his departure, and 



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