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39 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett
CRIMINAL LAW
Section I.-Of Infraction.
The Bavili have a very distinct idea of the moral and natural law, and classify their sins
into five distinct sections of the one great class of laws called Xina or things forbidden,
sometimes spoken of as Ka Zila, no road.
The first section is called Xina Xivanga Nzambi, or that which is contrary to God the
creator. The sign of this is Mawso, the tail of the ox, the sign of office of the Kongo Zovo.
The second is found in the horror the native has (or had) of being photographed, and in
the magic glass of the Nganga Nyambi, who alone is allowed to look into it, to discover
the successor of the defunct Maluango, made, as they say in the image of God. This
mirror-gazing is called Ku Sala Fumu.
The third we find in the way the mothers correct their children when they talk foolishly
of God, this they call Xibika Bakulu.
In illustration of the fourth class. On the fourth day the prince, Kongo Zovo, or father,
may have no connection with his wife, he may not go outside of his town, he may not
hold a palaver. The doctor or Nganga Bilongo may not bleed his patient. The women
may not work in the fields. All this is called Sona.
The fifth comprises all those ceremonies and things forbidden concerning maternity. A
woman must not sleep with her husband on the ground. A girl must not have connection
with a man before she has passed through the "paint house." No dishonour to their
parents must be thought of. All this is summed up in the word 'Ngo, the leopard.
These foregoing five Bina (plural of Xina) are summed up as Xina Va Xi Fumba.
The sixth, to kill, is called Ku Vawnda.
The seventh, to commit adultery, Ku Bawnga.
The eighth, to steal, Ku. Kuba.
The ninth to bear false witness, Xi Buta Mambu.
These four are called Xina Nkaka.
Not to covet, to remember that all under the market tree is sacred, and that this tree is
also the last resting place of the body of the defunct Maluango, on the way to the burial,
after having held the "Seven" well in hand according to the will of God. All this is called
Xina Nsotchi or Nsoxi.
Finally, we come to that class Aza Bina, or totems, by which the natives know whom
they may marry and whom not, as already mentioned in Section II., i.e., a man may not
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