106 
BLACK-ART CASES. 
the blood lier little son and nephews, who kneel to 
receive it. Sisters and female relatives come next to 
be anointed by her, and it is pleasant to see those 
dearest to her pressing forward with congratulations 
and wishes. She then rises from her seat, uttering a 
sort of whining cry, and walks off to the house of the 
sultana, preceded and followed by spear-bearers. Dur- 
ing the day she walks about the village, still hooded, 
and attended by several followers shaking gourds con- 
taining grain, and singing " Heigh-ho, massa-a-no," or 
" masanga." An old woman is appointed to wrestle 
with her for a broomstick which she carries, and finally 
the stick is left in her hand. Late in the afternoon a 
change is wrought ; she appears as in ordinary, but 
with her face curiously painted, her followers being 
also painted in the same way. She sits without smil- 
ing to receive offerings of grain, with beads or anklets 
placed on twigs of the broomstick, which she holds 
upright ; and this over, she walks among the women, 
who shout out " Gnombe ! " (cow) or some other ridicul- 
ous expression to create a laugh. This winds up the 
ceremony on the first day, but two days afterwards 
the now emancipated woman is seen parading about 
with the broomstick hung with beads and rings, and 
looking herself again, being completely cured. The 
vanquished spirit had been forced to fly ! 
Black - art cases were duly tried, and generally 
ended in conviction. A cowherd who had sold me 
some fish died very suddenly; one of his two wives 
was suspected of having poisoned him ; and being 
tried, she was convicted and condemned. She was 
taken to the dry bed of the stream, her arms tied 
behind her, and was killed by having her throat cut 
