The native forge of a blacksmith was considered sacred by the people, and they never stole from it. If any one did so he would be punished by contracting "mpiki" or scrotal hernia. Any person who so far forgot himself as to sit on the anvil would get swollen legs. A blacksmith must not charge for mending a hoe, nor for putting a new handle to a hoe. The usual gift for this was one string of common blue pipe beads.
First-fruits and Planting.
Of the first farm produce of the season of maize, peanuts, and beans, one of each is thrown towards the rising sun. The practice is to eat one and throw one, and say,—"Tudianga zo (or mo) yamu mvu ya mvu" (We are eating them for ever, or from year to year). (See also vol. xix., p. 422, §5.) Women must remain chaste while planting pumpkin and calabash seeds, they are not allowed to touch any pig-meat, and they must wash their hands before touching the seeds. If a woman does not observe all these rules, she must not plant the seeds, or the crop will be bad; she may make the holes, and her baby girl, or another who has obeyed the restrictions, can drop in the seeds and cover them over. They never cook pumpkin leaves with palm oil, as they believe that their mouths and noses will rot away (from lupus) after eating the mixture. The leaves are cooked and eaten by themselves without any ill effect.
B.M.S. Wathen, Thysville, Congo Belge.
(To be continued.)
