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19 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett
CHAPTER IV. COURTS OF MALUANGO AND
MAMBOMA
The Interregnum.-Maluango's Court. -Mamboma's Court. -Justice. -The Magic Mirror.-
Some Fjort Sayings.-The Districts.
WE now turn to the court Of MALUANGO or the Prince of the Custom of the Leopard.
Maluango, as we have seen, is the king or chief of the Bavili; the word is equivalent to
Maniluango,i.e., Prince of Luango; his overlord was, of course, Kongo, the Ntawtela, 15 of
the realm of Kongo. MALUANGO has seven titles, one of which, NTAWTELA, is his title
after his death. Under six of these titles he presides over six sections of government,
aided in each case by two assessors.
Division 1.
As Fumu (judge) he appears as the conscientious arbitrator, and in these matters he has
as assessors LUEMBUNGU and MANKAKA, the chief of his army and the executioner.
NGANGA MPUNZI is the priest, whose duty it is to clean and sweep up the place where
the coming Maluango shall build his dwelling.
Division 2.
As NTINU (judge), he is the reasoning judge, and here he is aided by INJIBUNGU
the recording messenger MAXIENJI.
In cases where no just decision can be arrived at Maluango advised the parties to take
the powdered bark of the NKASA tree (not the pea shrub) which was administered by
the priest NGANGA NKASA. The innocent party would vomit, while the guilty one either
died from the effect of the poison, or, being purged, was killed.
Division 3.
As NGANGA VUMBA (Priest of the Seasons), it was the duty of Maluango to look after
the morals of his people, more especially touching adultery and murder; in this he was
helped by KONGO MBUNGu and MAFUKA, his messenger. After punishment adulterers
had to buy certain expensive medicines from NGANGA KUTECI to appease BUNZI.
Division 4.
As MALUANGO XIVANJI (head of the state), it was his duty to govern the country, and in
these matters he was assisted by TATABUNGU and MAMBOMA. And NGANGA MBUMBA
aided them with his knowledge of the secrets of life and medicines.
15
The title is according to Bentley, applied during their lifetime to the kings of Kongo, to the subject princes of
Luango and Kakongo only after their death
16
Where no office is named, I have been unable to discover the functions performed by this officer mentioned
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16
and