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The dissemination of divination in roman republican times

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Before mak<strong>in</strong>g blood-brotherhood<br />

Before long journeys<br />

A man before marry<strong>in</strong>g a wife<br />

Before present<strong>in</strong>g a pr<strong>in</strong>ce with beer<br />

Before large scale hunt<strong>in</strong>g<br />

A commoner <strong>in</strong> choos<strong>in</strong>g homestead site<br />

Before accept<strong>in</strong>g European employment<br />

Before becom<strong>in</strong>g a witchdoctor<br />

Before jo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a closed association<br />

A man before he and his adult sons go to war<br />

In cases <strong>of</strong> disloyalty to a pr<strong>in</strong>ce<br />

A pr<strong>in</strong>ce before mak<strong>in</strong>g war<br />

All other matters perta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to warfare<br />

A pr<strong>in</strong>ce before mov<strong>in</strong>g his court<br />

A pr<strong>in</strong>ce to discover whether a communal ceremony will term<strong>in</strong>ate drought<br />

A pr<strong>in</strong>ce to determ<strong>in</strong>e the actions <strong>of</strong> the British District Commissioner<br />

A pr<strong>in</strong>ce before accept<strong>in</strong>g presents or tribute<br />

Table 4.3. Reasons for consultation <strong>of</strong> div<strong>in</strong>er among the Azande 29<br />

A similar pattern as among the Sisala emerges. Life transitions such as birth, marriage and<br />

death account for many <strong>of</strong> the items. We also f<strong>in</strong>d disease and travel on the list. An addition<br />

is several items related to war. War like travel is an event where a potential misfortune may<br />

conceivably occur. We also f<strong>in</strong>d more specific items that are specific to the Azande, such as<br />

mak<strong>in</strong>g blood-brotherhood, jo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a closed association and becom<strong>in</strong>g a witchdoctor. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

are accord<strong>in</strong>g to the culture <strong>of</strong> the Azande actions that may have great consequences for the<br />

life <strong>of</strong> the <strong>in</strong>dividual. <strong>The</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> the items may seem obscure, but accounts, <strong>of</strong> how they<br />

relate to the actual or potential misfortune or lack <strong>of</strong> fortune as understood by the Azande,<br />

can be <strong>of</strong>fered.<br />

<strong>The</strong> last list by Michael Jackson is not as comprehensive as the two previous. It is made on<br />

the basis <strong>of</strong> research among the Kuranko <strong>of</strong> Niger. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Jackson typical motivations<br />

for consult<strong>in</strong>g a div<strong>in</strong>er are:<br />

A man’s wife is barren<br />

A woman has a long and difficult labor<br />

A man is about to marry<br />

A man is about to brush his farm<br />

A person is about to embark on a journey<br />

A person is troubled by a dream<br />

A k<strong>in</strong>sman is ill<br />

A sickness or disease does not respond to treatment suggested by a besetigi (medic<strong>in</strong>emaster)<br />

A k<strong>in</strong>sman (particularly a child) dies suddenly<br />

A man is about to have his son or daughter <strong>in</strong>itiated<br />

29 after (Evans-Pritchard 1937: 261f)<br />

61

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