Ii8 Seven Years in Central Africa. [Oct. 
kings, and they immediately tore a gap for him to pass. Then there 
was a scramble for the flesh of an ox that had been sacrificed to him. 
The young men, being the nimblest, got the lion's share, which 
seemed to grieve greatly a few of the elders. In the excitement of 
the moment each thought of the meat, but no one of the hide, which 
should have been taken off and buried with the remains. Hence the 
old men who had charge of the ceremonies became irate, and between 
it all they nearly had a free fight. Finally Bonge ran the pole into 
the fence that encloses the burial-place, so they again made a gap and 
sent him in." 
CHARMS AGAINST EVIL FETISHES. 
The people have a great fear of death, which they do not seem 
to look upon as a certainty, and the natural end of life — at least, 
to say so in conversation gives offence. They would fain believe 
that death is a mishap, an evil brought about by fetish agencies ; 
but for which, naan would be immortal. Consequently, all their 
so-called religious observances and charms are meant to 
counteract the influence of these evil fetishes by other fetishes. 
Before starting on a journey a man will spend perhaps a fortnight 
in preparing charms to overcome evils by the way, and to enable 
him to destroy his enemies. If he be a trader, he desires to find 
favour in the eyes of chiefs and a liberal price for his goods. 
As there is no limit to a man's fears, superstitions, avarice, or 
hatred of his enemies, so there is no limit to the number of his 
charms; and at the end of his journey he finds himself loaded 
with such things, sewn into belts and hung in little horns round 
his neck. 
As to the articles used in the composition of charms, I may 
say that everything under the sun is used. I have been told 
here that they can turn the hills into water with some of them, 
can make an ox impervious to bullet or spear, can create a living 
lion out of the skin of a dead one, and can bring death or sick- 
ness upon anyone. 
Many half-castes and Portuguese believe strongly in the charms 
of the Ovimbundu tribes ; but on questioning them closely as to 
certain of the mysterious things alleged to be done, I always find 
that the thing has happened in the night-time, and that the 
fetish doctors will not " cast " their charms or work miracles at 
any other time. How close the connection between spiritual 
and literal darkness ! 
