Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/393

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��READINGS.

Ashanti Fetishes and Oracles. In the " Bulletin de la Socie'te' Neu- chateloise de Geographie," vol. xi. 1899, E. Perregaux, missionary at Abe- tifi in Ashanti-land, under the head of " Le fe'tichisme," gives an instructive account of Ashanti belief. The idea of a creative deity, he says, is found among all peoples of the Gold Coast, the same name, Onyame, or the Su- perior Being, being applied to the heaven. It has been maintained that the conception has been borrowed from Europeans ; the writer, on the con- trary, thinks that the locutions in which the name is employed show it to have an ancient origin.

" The Ashantis recognize the existence of a Superior Being whom they adore, but in a vague manner. They commonly consecrate to him the trunk of a tree which they have cut down in the forest and transported to the inner court of their huts ; they call it Onyame dua, tree of God, place at its summit a sort of earthen pan in which they pour their offerings, con- sisting of palm wine, eggs, feathers of hens, and like objects. Whenever they drink palm wine, they pour on the ground some drops before carrying it to their lips, and do the same thing when they eat their fufu. If you inquire the significance of this action, they answer that they are thanking God. They have, for the rest, singular traditions to explain the origin of the cult offered to fetishes.

" At the commencement of the world, in the night of time, Onyame (God) was in daily relations with men. He came on the earth, conversed with mankind, and all went well ; but one day the women, in pounding their fufu, used too long pestles and struck God, who in anger retired from the world, leaving its management to subaltern divinities. These are spirits (fetishes), who dwell everywhere, in waters, woods, rocks, and it is neces- to conciliate them, unless one is willing to encounter their displeasure. Hence the worship rendered to fetishes. . ..

"Every native has his personal god, his sumavi, which might also be called amulet, talisman, or charm. Anything may serve the purpose, — feathers of different birds, pearls, a piece of wood, a stone, a piece of leather bought at a high price from a priest of fetishes. And you will see him offer to his fetish libations of palm-wine or brandy, palm-oil, maize, fowls, or anoint his fetish with the blood of a ram or a sheep. He invokes it in all the circumstances of his life, and always expects to see his prayer granted. He devotes himself also to rites and customs of all sorts which have no connection with the object of his prayer. For example, in order to obtain the cure of a beloved personage, or success in any enterprise, you will see him, according to his own account, under the influence of the fetish, surround his huts with a palisade of twigs, stretch lianas from one hut to another, suspend rags to boughs, surround two pieces of wood with a bi': of cloth and fix them in the ground, crucify birds in earth, rub with eggs the door-posts of his house, and accomplish every kind of similar ceremonies."

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