Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 15, 1904.djvu/253

 Reviews. 229

among the Thonga states of the Delagoa Bay country mentioned by M. Junod,! Mapute is an offshoot of Tembe, and Matolo of Mpfumo.

The Mang'anja of the Shire Highlands, before their tribal organisation was broken up by the Yaos on the one hand and the Makololo on the other, appear to have been subject to a paramount chief, known as the Lundu or Rundu. But we know Uttle about them before this catastrophe overtook them.

Among the Thonga, as well as the Zulus and the more southerly tribes, it is a so7i (usually the eldest son of the " great," who is not \\\q. first, wife), and not a brother, who succeeds.

The hierarchy of minor chiefs, councillors, and headmen, described by Mr. Hayford, is found (under different names and usually less clearly defined) in nearly every African tribe which has not been broken up by wars or European influence. The important official known as the "linguist" or "spokesman" (pp. 68-72) may correspond to the Zulu imbongi, who is PubHc Orator, as well as Poet Laureate ; but his position appears to be a more confidential and important one, resembling in some respects that of Great Induna or prime minister.

The " Company System " described on pp. 85-92 may be compared with that in force among the Zulus, and erroneously attributed to Tshaka, though no doubt he did a great deal to develop and perfect it ; also what M. Junod says {Les Baronga, pp. 141, &c.) about the corvee (cultivating the chiefs land) and the feast of firstfruits. These three matters are all intimately connected. The most important Ronga festival (there are at least two) is that held when the makanye fruit, from which beer is made, is ripe, and on this occasion all the warriors of the tribe assemble at the chief's kraal to be "doctored" and dance the war-dance. For the ukutshwama of the Zulus, see Colenso's Zulu-English Dictionary, p. 580, and Dudley Kidd, The Essential Kafir, pp. 269-272.

The chapter headed "The Fetish System" (pp. 101-108) is exceedingly interesting, but does not tell us all we should like to know. It is evident, however, that the " priests " are merely the doctors and soothsayers whom we find elsewhere under various designations. With the Zulus, the Baronga, and no doubt other

' Grammaire Ronga, p. 9.