The Makololo In Turn Blamed The People Of Tette For
Drought:
"A number of witches live here, who won't let it rain."
Africans in general are sufficiently superstitious, but those of
Tette are in this particular pre-eminent above their fellows.
Coming
from many different tribes, all the rays of the separate
superstitions converge into a focus at Tette, and burn out common
sense from the minds of the mixed breed. They believe that many evil
spirits live in the air, the earth, and the water. These invisible
malicious beings are thought to inflict much suffering on the human
race; but, as they have a weakness for beer and a craving for food,
they may be propitiated from time to time by offerings of meat and
drink. The serpent is an object of worship, and hideous little
images are hung in the huts of the sick and dying. The
uncontaminated Africans believe that Morungo, the Great Spirit who
formed all things, lives above the stars; but they never pray to him,
and know nothing of their relation to him, or of his interest in
them. The spirits of their departed ancestors are all good,
according to their ideas, and on special occasions aid them in their
enterprises. When a man has his hair cut, he is careful to burn it,
or bury it secretly, lest, falling into the hands of one who has an
evil eye, or is a witch, it should be used as a charm to afflict him
with headache.
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