Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 18, 1907.djvu/119

Rh birth. During such time, a sudden contact with the powerful rays of the tropical sun may prove fatal to the eyesight, hence the above custom to prevent such a calamity.

Should a cock crow in the early part of the night, before the usual hours, it is to be instantly killed and publicly feasted on at the crossing of two roads. The explanation of this custom is as follows: There are no chronometers in a West African community (purely so), and time is measured in the day by the sun and in the night by the crowing of the cock. Important arrangements between parties are fixed for the first, second, or third crowing of the cock; hence the above to prevent the community being misled by an eccentric cock. Should a hen happen to crow at all, the unnatural action is immediately checked by applying the above custom.

Whistling is strictly forbidden in a dwelling, and a boy who persisted in the habit should be punished.

In civilised communities this habit is regarded as an example of rudeness, but with the West African it goes further. It invites snakes and other reptiles, and the woodland nature of the West African homes makes it easy for the approach of these unfriendly and unwelcome visitors; hence the custom.

A woman during pregnancy should not go out in the night without a knife or some other weapon of defence.

This is to prevent fright, which causes abortion or some other trouble. The woman, knowing that she is armed, would not easily be frightened.

On seeing a flash of lightning, one should hiss or do something of the like.

This is to strengthen the nerves against thunderclap, which is often disastrous to weak nerves.