WITCHCRAFT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1923, Page 4

WITCHCRAFT.

gI'EER AFRICAN CUSTOMS. LONDON, Sept. ”7. Strange native customs in the Kascmpa district ol' Northern Rhodesia i where the Zambesi rises) are described 1,,.. Mr Frank 11. Melhuul, a local magistrate. in “In Witch-Bound Africa,” a work of fascinating interest and thorough roseareli. with many illustrations.

When a. baby is born the father must not touch hi- child for ahont a month, until it “laughs and show- that it is strong.” The next day all in the village tout'll the lathy and life resumes it - normal rottr-e. At the next new moon alter twins arc born their mother and the other women carry them round the village, dancing the while. I hoy take with ihum a Hat basket. Everyone they men ha- to put a gift, Mu-h as tol,;ifot), nu-nl. and beads, in the basket Tlie meal and Ihe beads arc for the bablc-. tile tobai Co for the parents. If a child cut-, iis upper incisors be h, i - lower ones ir i- thrown into t!i.- rive,. A child who doe- not walk at the proper time is also killed. Tim reason for this is that the child i, supposed t,, he waiting to walk until all its relatives are dead. To save hurrying the death of so many people til,' child is drowned. There is no reprieve- for this. The bridegroom has to live in the wife's village and is “never allowed to look his mother-in-law in the face." The wife’s duties include “dressing her husband's hair in tufts'’; al-o the wa-hing, but this she can reluct* to do “if 1 1 usv pounding grain.' (; riot tills f,,r divorce are numerous. For the man it is sufficient: "If his parents-in-law abuse him continually; if she does not cook food lor his friends: ii she does not make boor.” From tlie women's side the knot can be untied for “failure to do his gardenwork ; failure to clothe her : excessive hoai ing.” Blood-brotherhood hv which men pledge themselves in aid each the other is a common custom. To seal the bond •‘each of the contracting parties makes a slight incision in the wrist or arm of the other and drinks a drop of the blood therefrom.” Certain natives assert that they “own” tuvewera, m tamiliar spirits. Those are “of human shape, about .'lft high, villi protruding bellies and with the body facing the wrong wav in relation to the head and legs. I hey arc invisible io all who have not certain medicine.” This witchcraft brings great advantages. as the natives explain: .Tii't treat them nicely and they'll go and steal for you: get you guns, dogs, food, whatever von w ill ; and it's quite safe with them, you will never he found out. The tuvewera. it is said, are "kept in the lm-li and no one can see them. They visit their owner in his lull at night.”