a most decorous fashion. The head-dress of this new
arrival was a perfect work of art, sufficient to discourage
the most devoted coiffeur in the Eue de la Paix or Regent
Street. _
On his chin were five stalks, each about six inches m
length. These radiated, and each had a rosette of black
hair blossoming at the end, and artistically bound with fine
yellow bark, reminding me of the top of a new fishing-rod.
Similar long-stemmed flowers of jet-like blackness were to
be seen all over his head.
After a lengthened silence this splendid dandy deigned
to speak, telling a most amusing story much too long to
repeat, but all in praise of his master’s medicine. I must
here explain that these people must have medicine for
every external freak of nature, and these medicines are
specially made by the doctors, of whom there is by no
means a dearth. The doctors play npon the credulity of
the natives, much in the same way as do the medica
charlatans of civilisation, with this difference: that the
medicine supplied to savages merely stimulates the superstitious
mind, leaving no injurious effects upon the stomach
or constitution.
There are medicines for hunting, for war, for peace, tor
love, and for every other inclination of the human mmd.
Doctors of reputation attend to each distinct description o
luck that is required. Nothing can be too outrageous or
extraordinary in the concoction of such medicines, which
would move the emulation of dame Hecate and the witches
in “ Macbeth.” If bad luck succeeds the treatment, the
failure is attributed to the medicine. Sometimes the physic
will consist of a grass bracelet, with a shell of fruit filled
up with-all sorts of rubbish. The hopes and fears of some
trusting patients may be associated with the mysterious
EFFECTIVE MEDICINE. 117
properties of chips of bone and the gut of some wild
beast.
Portions of the insides of some particular animals are
assumed to have a curative, or rather preventative, effect
against disease and misfortune. But concerning disease,
are not all men akin? So long as death knocks at every
door, there will be work for quacks in every land.
Every conceivable and inconceivable thing that is foreign
to humanity is selected to have an influence over their
careers. Pieces of the skin of the lizard and the snake are
favourite charms.
The man with the wonderful “ head of hair ” went on to
describe some thrilling adventures, relating particularly to
the narrow escapes which the party had had while hunting
the second of the elephants whose tusks they had brought.
They had followed the elephant for five whole days; but
he said he had no fear, because his medicine was of the
very best quality, and his aim was unerring. All he wished
before going upon another hunt was to have some more
medicine from “ Senoro.” I was told that with a medicine
in which they have confidence the» people will do most
flaring feats; but if the medicine is thought unlucky they
will return—it is of no use trying to hunt with it.
Da Costa told me that this was his headman, and
a very good hunter besides; to be implicitly trusted in
every way. With regard to superstition, my friend told
me that he was himself a Roman Catholic, but he had
long ago given up every effort to make the natives move
from the course of their belief or unbelief. He said—and
his remarks were worth listening to with attention, for he
had spent most of his life among the Zambesi tribes—
that it was a hopeless task in any way to attempt to drive
away native superstition. They have an ineradicable trust