Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 21, 1910.djvu/490

448 pipe beads and a fowl, after recovery from an infectious disease by means of the mbambi fetish. In return for the fee instruction is given in the "medicines" used and method of procedure. (If the patient is clever enough to recognise the herbs etc. given to him, and to imitate the ceremonies, he may set up as a nganga without paying any fee.)

3. Being imbued with fetish power in the ekinu dance.

4. Passing the ordeal for witches successfully.

The profession was therefore open to any shrewd, artful, and energetic person, either rich or poor, bond or free, and was not confined to one sex. As a rule, the nganga was a lithe and active person, for it was often necessary to dance for hours to excite the crowd to the necessary pitch; he had restless, sharp eyes that jumped from face to face of the spectators; he had an acute knowledge of human nature, and knew almost instinctively what would please the surrounding throng; but his face became after a time ugly, repulsive, and the canvas upon which cruelty, chicanery, hate, murder, and all devilish passions were portrayed with repellent accuracy. When performing, blue, red, white, yellow, and any other colours he could obtain were plastered in patches, lines, and circles upon the face and exposed parts of his body; thick circles of white surrounded the eyes, a patch of red crossed the fore-