THE OKDEAL MUAVI. 
399 
a short distanco among grass a little taller than myself, an 
animal sprang away from mo which was certainly not an 
antelope, but I could not distinguish whether it was a lion 
or a hyena. This ahundaneo of carnivora made us lose all 
hopo of Monahin. Wo saw footprints of many black rhi- 
noceroses, buffalos, and zebras. 
Aftor a fow hours wo rcachod tho villago of Nyakoba 
Two mon who accompanied us from Monina to Nyakoba’s 
would not believe us whon wo said that wo had no boads. 
It is very trying to havo one’s voracity doubtod; but, on 
opening tho boxes, and showing thorn that all I had 
was perfbctly usoloss to thorn, they consented to rocoivo 
some beads off Sekwobu’s waist, and 1 promised to sond 
four yards of calico from Tcto. As wo came away from 
Monina’s villago, a witch-doctor, who had been sent for, 
arrived, and all Monina’s wives wont forth into tho fields 
that morning fasting. There they would ho compelled 
to drink an infusion of a plant named “goho,” which 
is used as an ordeal. This ceremony is called “ muavi,” 
and is performed in this way. When a man suspects 
that any of his wivos has bowitchcd him, ho sends 
for tho witch-doctor, and all tho wives go forth into tho 
field and remain fasting till that person has mado an 
infusion of tho plant. They all drink it, each one holding 
up hor hand to iicavon in attestation of her innooency. 
Thoso who vomit it are considered innocent, while those 
whom it purges aro pronounced guilty, and put to death by 
burning. Tho innocent return to their homos, and slaughter 
a cock as a thank-offering to thoir guardian spirits. The 
practice of ordeal is common among all tho negro nations 
north of tho Zambesi. This summary procedure excited 
my surprise, for my intercourse with tho natives hero had 
lod me to believe that tho women woro hold in so much 
estimation that tho men would not dare to got rid of thorn 
thus. But tho explanation I roeoivod was this. Tho 
slightest imputation makes them eagerly desire tho tost; 
they are conscious of being innocent, and havo tho fullest 
