The Last Vestiges Of Christianity In Socotra, So Far As We Know, Are Those
Traced By P. Vincenzo, The Carmelite, Who Visited The Island After The
Middle Of The 17th Century.
The people still retained a profession of
Christianity, but without any knowledge, and with a strange jumble of
rites; sacrificing to the moon; circumcising; abominating wine and pork.
They had churches which they called Moquame (Ar.
Makam, "Locus,
Statio"?), dark, low, and dirty, daily anointed with butter. On the altar
was a cross and a candle. The cross was regarded with ignorant reverence,
and carried in processions. They assembled in their churches three times
in the day, and three times in the night, and in their worship burned much
incense, etc. The priests were called Odambo, elected and consecrated by
the people, and changed every year. Of baptism and other sacraments they
had no knowledge.
There were two races: one, black with crisp hair; the other, less black,
of better aspect, and with straight hair. Each family had a cave in which
they deposited their dead. They cultivated a few palms, and kept flocks;
had no money, no writing, and kept tale of their flocks by bags of stones.
They often committed suicide in age, sickness, or defeat. When rain failed
they selected a victim by lot, and placing him within a circle, addressed
prayers to the moon. If without success they cut off the poor wretch's
hands. They had many who practised sorcery. The women were all called
Maria, which the author regarded as a relic of Christianity; this De
Barros also notices a century earlier.
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