DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0308
292
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
anjilu is a more deadly poison and is not used in the poison ordeal but is administered with
intent to murder; it is usually given mixed with beer or in porridge. Death is said to be
assured in a few hours. Ligombela: the Yao name of beetles belonging to the genus Myla-
bris, found in large numbers in June and July in the native gardens where they do much
damage to the bean crops. The name is, I think, more especially applied to a species with
yellow bands, those with red markings being said to be harmless. These beetles are pre-
pared for poisoning food by frying and then grinding into a powder. In this form, they are
administered with intent to murder or they may be taken for suicidal purposes, five or six
beetles being used. These beetles contain cantharidin in a greater proportion than can-
tharis itself. The symptoms described by the natives as occurring after exhibition are con-
stipation followed by high fever, and death eight hours later. This same beetle is known
to other tribes and is the zwezwe of the Anyanja.
The bile of the crocodile, nyongo (ndulu, Chin.); nyongo and ndulu also are used, mean-
ing the gall-bladder. Crocodile gall has the reputation of being a powerful poison over
nearly the length and breadth of Africa. It is known, I think, to all the tribes in Nyasa-
land. In this district, they qualify their beliefs by saying that the bile of crocodiles from
Lakes Chilwa and Chiuta which do not eat men is not poisonous. The poison is also said
not to be used on the Lower Shire River where, and where only, crocodiles are eaten as food
by the natives. Among the Yao, the gall-bladder is removed with the contained gall,
dried, and then ground in a little mortar or on a stone. The dose of the powder is said to
be as much as would cover a sixpence. Symptoms are said to be great pain in the stom-
ach, swelling and discoloration of the tongue, and loss of speech. Public destruction of
the gall-bladder of any crocodile which has been killed is said to be the custom on the West
Coast of Africa, and the same is true of some tribes in Nyasaland as at Kotakota, but so
far as I am aware, this is not done among the Yao.
The gall of other animals is similarly used, but among the Yao I am not quite certain
of the species. Lipiri, the puff-adder, certainly is utilized, and I think other snakes, such
as a grey, ash colored snake, Liuyi, a water-snake six feet long, and Songo, the
crowing-snake. Certain lizards are also employed, such as Likwakwala, and frogs, both
Chiula and the running frog, Chiswenene. Scorpions too have found a place among poison-
ous preparations, so it is said, and likewise, the bile of some mammals. Bamboo fibre,
animal hair, the bones of fish, and ground glass, I have also heard mentioned as being ad-
ministered with the desire to produce a fatal enteritis.
Pupal cases made of twigs and the contained pupa (species of the family of Psychidae)
called chitemangu or chitema ngwi (from ku-tema, “ to cut ” and ngwi, “fire-wood ”) are
said when eaten by cattle to cause death. I cannot vouch for the truth of this nor can I
say whether they are ever given to man.
A wild yam, mtuu (pnalapa, Chin.) is poisonous if not well boiled and the water thrown
away, but is not used as a poison so far as I know. The same is true of ngunga, a kind
of cassava.
HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
anjilu is a more deadly poison and is not used in the poison ordeal but is administered with
intent to murder; it is usually given mixed with beer or in porridge. Death is said to be
assured in a few hours. Ligombela: the Yao name of beetles belonging to the genus Myla-
bris, found in large numbers in June and July in the native gardens where they do much
damage to the bean crops. The name is, I think, more especially applied to a species with
yellow bands, those with red markings being said to be harmless. These beetles are pre-
pared for poisoning food by frying and then grinding into a powder. In this form, they are
administered with intent to murder or they may be taken for suicidal purposes, five or six
beetles being used. These beetles contain cantharidin in a greater proportion than can-
tharis itself. The symptoms described by the natives as occurring after exhibition are con-
stipation followed by high fever, and death eight hours later. This same beetle is known
to other tribes and is the zwezwe of the Anyanja.
The bile of the crocodile, nyongo (ndulu, Chin.); nyongo and ndulu also are used, mean-
ing the gall-bladder. Crocodile gall has the reputation of being a powerful poison over
nearly the length and breadth of Africa. It is known, I think, to all the tribes in Nyasa-
land. In this district, they qualify their beliefs by saying that the bile of crocodiles from
Lakes Chilwa and Chiuta which do not eat men is not poisonous. The poison is also said
not to be used on the Lower Shire River where, and where only, crocodiles are eaten as food
by the natives. Among the Yao, the gall-bladder is removed with the contained gall,
dried, and then ground in a little mortar or on a stone. The dose of the powder is said to
be as much as would cover a sixpence. Symptoms are said to be great pain in the stom-
ach, swelling and discoloration of the tongue, and loss of speech. Public destruction of
the gall-bladder of any crocodile which has been killed is said to be the custom on the West
Coast of Africa, and the same is true of some tribes in Nyasaland as at Kotakota, but so
far as I am aware, this is not done among the Yao.
The gall of other animals is similarly used, but among the Yao I am not quite certain
of the species. Lipiri, the puff-adder, certainly is utilized, and I think other snakes, such
as a grey, ash colored snake, Liuyi, a water-snake six feet long, and Songo, the
crowing-snake. Certain lizards are also employed, such as Likwakwala, and frogs, both
Chiula and the running frog, Chiswenene. Scorpions too have found a place among poison-
ous preparations, so it is said, and likewise, the bile of some mammals. Bamboo fibre,
animal hair, the bones of fish, and ground glass, I have also heard mentioned as being ad-
ministered with the desire to produce a fatal enteritis.
Pupal cases made of twigs and the contained pupa (species of the family of Psychidae)
called chitemangu or chitema ngwi (from ku-tema, “ to cut ” and ngwi, “fire-wood ”) are
said when eaten by cattle to cause death. I cannot vouch for the truth of this nor can I
say whether they are ever given to man.
A wild yam, mtuu (pnalapa, Chin.) is poisonous if not well boiled and the water thrown
away, but is not used as a poison so far as I know. The same is true of ngunga, a kind
of cassava.