Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 3.djvu/237

 bad luck and bewitch men and animals, recourse is had to the jamba-coz, or wizard, who generally succeeds in averting the pending evil and driving away sickness. But should the victim happen to succumb, it is explained that this was because he wished to die in order to begin a new life beyond the grave, and thus the credit of the magician is upheld.

Amongst these populations trees, rocks, animals, colours, sound, everything assumes a favourable or sinister aspect; hence all objects of ill-omen are tabooed, whole districts being at times interdicted. Anyone penetrating into such places

would be immediately punished with death by poison. This practice prevails especially amongst the Felups and other tribes of the Geba basin, where the poisoned cup either produces vomiting or fatal convulsions, thus proving the guilt or innocence of the accused. These barbarous populations are ruled by the dread of the unknown. But as human nature cannot endure a perpetual state of terror, violent reactions set in, during which they frequently give themselves up to the wild delights of music and the dance.

The European race is here represented by about fifty persons, including soldiers, traders, and a few convicts. Nevertheless the Portuguese have, in the course of