THE CONGO IN 1863. 
105 
Fetish man may be wrong, the fetish cannot err. If 
a contretemps occur, a reason will surely be found ; and, 
should the “ doctor ” die, he has fallen a victim to a 
rival or an enemy more powerful than himself. 
A striking institution of the Congo region is that 
of the Jinkemba, which, curious to say, is unnoticed 
by Tuckey. It is not, however, peculiar to the Congo ; 
it is the “ Semo ” of the Susus or Soosoos of the Wind- 
ward Coast, and the “ Purrah ” of the Sherbro-Balloms 
or Bulloms, rendered Anglice by “ free-masonry.” The 
novitiate there lasts for seven or eight years, and 
whilst the boys live in the woods food is placed for 
them by their relations : the initiation, indeed, appears 
to be especially severe. Here all the free-born males 
are subjected to the wrongly called “Mosaic rite.” 
Merolla tells us that the wizards circumcise children on 
the eighth day (like the Jews), not out of regard for 
the law, but with some wicked end and purpose of 
their own. At any time between the ages of five and 
fifteen (eight to ten being generally preferred), boys 
are taken from their parents (which must be an ex- 
