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129 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett
when she is annoyed instead of beating her. Unlike other animals, he is never caught in
the act of copulation. But in spite of all this the Bavili say that man must not be led to
believe that the chimpanzee is an animal that he can make a real friend of. Its skin is
found in the XIBILA.
When a person wishes to refuse a request he has simply to mention his XINA. Thus,
supposing his XINA to be NGWALI, the person says NGWALI, the words MINU I
CIABAKOKO, I have it not," being understood. The word KAZILA (no road) is often used
for the word XINA.
There is a class of people called MAVUMBU66 (VUMBA to leak) living in different
districts of Kakongo and just on the southern borders of LUANGO, who are not allowed
to eat out of the same dish as the Bavili or people of Kakongo. Should one ask for food he
must tell the people that he is MAVUMBU, but as it is a great disgrace to admit this, such
a one seldom does ask another for it. I know one or two very rich and important men in
the country, whose names I will not mention, who are MAVUMBU. But where these
people come from I cannot find out, neither can I make out why they should be so
cursed. MAVU=dirt, and so MAVUMBU may mean the essence of dirt.
We may now, I think, conclude that this remarkable word XINA means law, a thing
forbidden, an abomination, and a totem.
It is said that the King Maluango has no XINA, but I think that this merely means that as
NKICI CI he is in the place of God, and therefore above the law, for as Fumu his XINA is
pig, and he must have his family BINA also.
Sacred Animals.
MPAKASA.
MBAMBINGOMBI. BAFU.
NKAKA.
NSEXI. BECI.
SUSU.
NVULI. MAKUNKULA.
NGUALI.
NGULUBU. MAILI.
MBOMA.
MPILI.
NKALA.
NQUIMBI.
NKUFU.
XINGOLOXINYUNDU. TELE. NVUBU.
66
Father T. Derouet informs me that the tribe the Bavili call BAKUTU call themselves BAVUMBU Or BAHUMBU,
and that their greatest fetish (sic) is NGO
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