Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 20, 1909.djvu/544

480 kimenga is made. The root idea is that in some way the kimenga renews the power in a fetish image or bundle of charms. It refreshes the fetish, and enables it to perform more effectually its office of protector of its owner, punisher of his enemies, and imparter of good fortune. A fowl or goat is killed, and its blood is poured over the image or charm, for these kimenga are made not only to images but also to bundles of charms. Sometimes the toe of a fowl is cut and the blood is allowed to fall on the fetish, and even the toe of a frog is cut and used as a kimenga. If the fetish is to be kept up to its full power, the sacrifice should be made regularly, e.g. at every new moon, or on certain market days, and the larger the favours expected the more costly must be the sacrifice. The fetish receiving only the drippings from a fowl's or a frog's toe cannot be expected to confer large favours. At the same time some fetishes can only impart small favours, and consequently it would be waste to give them a large kimenga, such as a large fowl or goat. Other fetishes, owned by wealthy men, give great good fortune, and their wealthy owners can afford to offer goats and fowls. The flesh of a sacrifice must not be sold, but eaten by the man who offers it and the members of his clan. Sunset is the usual time for offering the kimenga, and the person who kills the sacrifice turns his face towards the sun. A pig is never offered as a sacrifice, although it is more plentiful than the goat. My informant cannot guess at any reason for this restriction. I think it is probably reckoned unclean, as the planter of certain seeds is not allowed to eat it. (See also the description of a hunting sacrifice on p. 181 supra)