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76 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett<br />
Heaps of oyster and cockle shells are found in the grove, while in and about the hut<br />
The skin of a snake, the MBOMA.<br />
The skin of the snake XAMA.<br />
The vertebra of the whale.<br />
The feathers of the fowl and parrot.<br />
The heads and horns of animals such as the LUNGU, antelope, MPAKASA, the ox, and<br />
NGULUNGU, smaller antelope, etc.<br />
The heads of beasts (see under animals), and of course the NGANGA, the diviner, or<br />
priest and man.<br />
Such is the general description of the contents of the XIBILA or place of coming <strong>to</strong>gether<br />
and greeting of the BAVILL<br />
I will now describe how I first discovered one of these groves, from which you will<br />
gather some idea of its appearance.<br />
One day, walking about the woods on the hills behind Landana, in 1883, after winding<br />
our way through many over-branched pathways, we suddenly came in upon a circular<br />
clearing, in the centre of which grew an old tree, around which the jaws of two or three<br />
whales had been placed and become overgrown by the roots of the tree on which they<br />
once rested, so long must they have been there. The space around the tree was carefully<br />
swept, and on one side we noticed a beautiful new shimbec, or hut. My companions said<br />
they did not know who swept the clearing or who built the shimbec. Some feiticeiro or<br />
wizard, or perhaps a thief. A native s<strong>to</strong>ry they <strong>to</strong>ld us runs:-"Once upon a time there was<br />
a wizard who was anxiously looking about in the woods for a place <strong>to</strong> build a shimbec,<br />
wherein he might rest in peace and hide the bodies of his many victims. After many<br />
days' search he at last found a likely spot, marked it, and returned <strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>wn <strong>to</strong> buy some<br />
luangos or rushes, with which <strong>to</strong> build himself a hut.<br />
"Now, there happened <strong>to</strong> be a thief who was puzzlect <strong>to</strong> know where he could place<br />
goats and sheep he had robbed in safety.<br />
"He travelled many days through the woods, and at last hit upon the same spot as that<br />
selected by the wizard. 'Just the place!' he cried, and off he set <strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>wn <strong>to</strong> arrange for<br />
some bamboos. The wizard returned with his rushes, rested awhile, and then went back<br />
<strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>wn for some more. The thief returned, and declared the fetishes had been<br />
wondrously favourable <strong>to</strong> him in sending him the luangos (rushes). The wizard<br />
reappeared, and thanked the NKICI that had been so kind in sending him the bamboos.<br />
"Between them the wizard and the thief soon raised the shimbec, and wondered at the<br />
progress made in its construction during each other's absence. The wizard finally rigged<br />
up a broad shelf against one of the walls, and went away <strong>to</strong> seek someone whom he<br />
might poison. The thief in the meanwhile brought his goat, and, having killed it, cooked<br />
some and ate it, climbed upon the shelf, and fell asleep. The wizard returned, dragging<br />
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