Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 20, 1909.djvu/222

 1 88 Customs of the Lower Congo People,

instead of the pieces of native bread. This ordeal is used when a woman is accused, the bread being used for men and boys. The accused woman has to dip her hand into the oil and bring out the bracelet and put it on her arm. If not injured, she is innocent of the charge.

5. In divination by knotted grass (bau kia mienje), several pieces of grass are cut, and one piece is knotted at one end. The knotted piece is put with the others, and all the ends are held loosely in the closed fist. The accused has to pull out all the pieces and leave the knotted one in the fist, or he is guilty.

6. Divination by nkandi (a large bean). The "ngang' a ngombo " twists two pieces of string together, and, having bored a hole through the bean, passes the twisted string through it. He then holds the string in a perpendicular position, and says to the bean : " If it is a woman who is the witch in this case, then drop down the string, but, if it is a man, then go up the string."

7. In divination by a bead (bau kia mbiya), a blue pipe glass bead, about f of an inch long and \ inch thick, with broken jagged ends, is put between the upper eyelid and the eyeball. It is left in a few minutes, and, if the accused can bear the pain until the nganga takes it out, she or he is innocent of the charge. If the pain is unbearable and the bead is removed before the nganga gives the word, it is a sign of guilt.

8. Divination by hot water (bau kia maza ma tiya) is much the same process as with boiling oil.

The ngang' a bau is expected to stand all these tests himself without suffering pain or inconvenience. Unless he is prepared to undergo the ordeal (except taking the nkasa) before the accused, he is regarded with very little respect, and would soon lose his practice. Undoubtedly they know of juices, etc., that help them to bear these ordeals successfully, and will sell their knowledge to any accused person who cares to pay the price.