town between tbe ranges of hills north and south, which appear
to have a strong attraction for the rain-clouds. I t is often seen
to rain on these hills when not a drop falls at Tette. Our first
season was one of drought. Thrice had the women planted
their gardens in vain, the seed, after just vegetating, was
killed by the intense dry heat. A,fourth planting shared the
same hard fate, and then some of the knowing ones discovered
the cause of the clouds being frightened away: our unlucky
rain-gauge in the garden. We got a bad name through
that same rain-gauge, and were regarded by many as a
species of evil omen. 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 preeminent
above their fellows. Coming from many different
tribes, all the rays of the separate superstitions converge
into a focus at Tette, and bum 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 bum 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. They believe,
too, that they will live after the death of the body, but do not
know anything of the state of the Barimo (gods, or departed
spirits).
The mango-tree grows luxuriantly above Lupata, and
furnishes a grateful shade. Its delicious fruit is superior to
that on the coast. For weeks the natives who have charge
of the mangoes live entirely on the fruit, and, as some trees
bear in November and some in March, while the main crop
comes between, fruit in abundance may easily be obtained
during four months of the year; but no natife can be
induced to plant a mango. A wide-spread superstition has
become riveted in the native mind, that if any one plants
this tree he will soon die.. The Makololo, like other natives,
were very fond of the fruit; but when told to take up some
mango-stones, on their return, and plant them in their own
country—they too having become deeply imbued with the
belief that it was a suicidal act to do so—replied “ they did
not wish to die too soon.” There is also a superstition even
among the native Portuguese of Tette that if a man plants
coffee he will never afterwards be happy: they drink it, however,
and seem the happier for it.
During the drought of 1858 a neighbouring chief got
up a performance, with divers ceremonies and incantations, to
bring rain, but it would not come. The Goanese padre of
Tette, to satisfy his compatriots, appointed a procession and
prayers in honour of Saint Antonio for the same purpose. The
first attempt did not answer, but on the second occasion,
arranged to come off after the new-moon appeared, a grand
procession in the saint’s honour ended in so much rain that
the roof of the Residencia gave way: Saint Antonio’s