Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 16, 1905.djvu/463

 Bavili Notes. 405

There are five kinds of fish forming the class Mbizi Xibala, the spikes of which enter into bilongo, they are Xiendo, Mpudi, Nkoko, Ngola, and Xibiiela. Mpiidi and Ngola are the cat-fish, the others rays.

Nzikii the chimpanzee. Nziku Nkondo, as the saying goes, " Be careful how you choose your friends." Nzika ke kn zika niina muntu, " an apparently friendly man may get one into a big palaver." Nziku is the Xina of mankind generally. It is not only that there is a certain resem- blance between man and the chimpanzee in their outward form but they have many habits in common. It carries its young on its back and walks about the woods upon its hind legs with the help of a stick. It fights with a stick. But above all it is very gallant and treats its pregnant wife with the greatest respect, running away from her when she is annoyed instead of beating her. Unlike other animals it is never caught in the act of copulation. But in spite of all this the Bavili say that man must not be led to believe that the chimpanzee is an animal that he can make a real friend of Its skin is found in the Bibila.

It is said that the King, Maloango, has no Xina, but as Fttmic his Xina is pig, and he must have his family Bina also.

When a person wishes to refuse a request he has simply to mention his Xina. Thus supposing his Xina to be Ngwali, the person says Ngwali : the words Minu i Ciabakoko (I have it not) being understood. The word Kazila (no road) is often used for the word Xina.

We may now I think conclude that this remarkable word Xina means a law, a thing forbidden, an abomina- tion.

R. E. Dennett.

Postscript. — There is a class of people called Mavumba ( Vumba, to leak) living in diff"erent districts of Kakongo