The sacrifice is the usual killing of something valuable as an
offering to the spirits. The value of the offering in these S.W.
Coast regions has certainly a regular relationship to the value of
the favour required of the spirits. Some favours are worth a dish
of plantains, some a fowl, some a goat and some a human being,
though human sacrifice is very rare in Congo Francais, the killing
of people being nine times in ten a witchcraft palaver.
Dr. Nassau, however, says that "the intention of the giver ennobles
the gift," the spirit being supposed, in some vague way, to be
gratified by the recognition of itself, and even sometimes pleased
with the homage of the mere simulacrum of a gift. I believe the
only class of spirits that have this convenient idea are the
Imbwiri; thus the stones heaped by passers-by on the foot of some
great tree, or rock, or the leaf cast from a passing canoe towards a
promontory on the river, etc., although intrinsically valueless and
useless to the Ombwiri nevertheless gratify him. It is a sort of
bow or taking off one's hat to him. Some gifts, the Doctor says,
are supposed to be actually utilised by the spirit.
In some part of the long single street of most villages there is
built a low hut in which charms are hung, and by which grows a
consecrated plant, a lily, a euphorbia, or a fig. In some tribes a
rudely carved figure, generally female, is set up as an idol before
which offerings are laid. I saw at Egaja two figures about 2 feet 6
inches high, in the house placed at my disposal. They were left in
it during my occupation, save that the rolls of cloth (their power)
which were round their necks, were removed by the owner chief; of
the significance of these rolls I will speak elsewhere.
Incantations may be divided into two classes, supplications
analogous to our idea of prayers, and certain cabalistic words and
phrases. The supplications are addresses to the higher spirits.
Some are made even to Anzam himself, but the spirit of the new moon
is that most commonly addressed to keep the lower spirits from
molesting.
Dr. Nassau gave me many instances out of the wealth of his
knowledge. One night when he was stopping at a village, he saw
standing out in the open street a venerable chief who addressed the
spirits of the air and begged them, "Come ye not into my town;" he
then recounted his good deeds, praising himself as good, just,
honest, kind to his neighbours, and so on. I must remark that this
man had not been in touch with Europeans, so his ideal of goodness
was the native one - which you will find everywhere among the most
remote West Coast natives.
