DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0323
THE WAYAO OF NYASALAND
307
Tingulingu was another well-known performer; he used to do the same tricks as Kam-
benje. He also was possessed of an elastic skin and is said to have been able “ to tie his
ears together behind the back of his head.”
Mpechetula, a Yao of Mkanda, is a man with considerable renown. He is said to be able
to produce a lion at will from a Hon’s tail and claw. He would offer to show this if there
were any brave enough to go through with it. On a moonlight night, he would expose on
the ground in a cleared space near a village the tail of a lion held cross-wise in a piece of
split bamboo. At the split end of the bamboo, he would place a lion’s claw and round this, a
woman’s belt held in position by three bamboo pegs, around which he would draw a circle
of mbepesi flour. Everyone would then withdraw to a hut in which the seance was to take
place. After an hour or so, Mpechetula would send some one out to inspect the lion’s tail
where probably all would be found intact. He might then pretend to be uninterested and
sleepy and suggest that some one should go out again in half an hour. Sooner or later, a
man would come back, having found the tail gone; then everyone would go out to see what
had happened. The pegs would be found in place but the tail and claw gone. A little way
off, the split piece of bamboo would be found and further still a bead or two from the woman’s
belt. These, Mpechetula would pick up, and leaving a little trail of flour on their way, all
returned to the hut, while he whistled as if calling some one. Suddenly they would be aroused
by the sound as of a lion brushing against the hut walls, as the beasts are known to do,
and next, a loud roar. Mpechetula would immediately open the door half-way so that the
people could look out into the moonlight and there, a little way off, would be the lion. It
would immediately advance towards the house and then, as it prepared to spring for the
door, Mpechetula would offer it some of the flour in his left hand, armed with a stirring-
stick, mtiko, in his right hand. As the lion landed, he would strike it on the head with the
stick and lo and behold! the lion would vanish and the tail and claw would be found in his
hand.
Superstitions. Scattered throughout these notes, particularly under Usawi and Disease,
mention is made of practices which show a strong belief in superstition. Below are given
a number of minor beliefs, and it is interesting to compare them with many well-known
superstitions in other parts of the world.
1. A child who cuts the upper incisor teeth first will be unlucky. Such children used
to be killed by the Yao. (Other tribes make medicine against the threatened ill-luck.)
2. A woman with polydactylism may not take food out of a corn-store. Otherwise the
stock of corn will not last long. (Rudimentary sixth fingers are not uncommon.)
3. An insect called chisyene mesi which lives in the mud at the bottom of pools, if killed
causes the water to dry up.
4. If a boy puts a water-spider in the armpit when learning to swim, he will learn
quickly.
5. A man wishing to prevent rain falling on a day he is making a journey, will wrap
some of the leaves of the mtomoni tree in his loin cloth and go without drinking.
307
Tingulingu was another well-known performer; he used to do the same tricks as Kam-
benje. He also was possessed of an elastic skin and is said to have been able “ to tie his
ears together behind the back of his head.”
Mpechetula, a Yao of Mkanda, is a man with considerable renown. He is said to be able
to produce a lion at will from a Hon’s tail and claw. He would offer to show this if there
were any brave enough to go through with it. On a moonlight night, he would expose on
the ground in a cleared space near a village the tail of a lion held cross-wise in a piece of
split bamboo. At the split end of the bamboo, he would place a lion’s claw and round this, a
woman’s belt held in position by three bamboo pegs, around which he would draw a circle
of mbepesi flour. Everyone would then withdraw to a hut in which the seance was to take
place. After an hour or so, Mpechetula would send some one out to inspect the lion’s tail
where probably all would be found intact. He might then pretend to be uninterested and
sleepy and suggest that some one should go out again in half an hour. Sooner or later, a
man would come back, having found the tail gone; then everyone would go out to see what
had happened. The pegs would be found in place but the tail and claw gone. A little way
off, the split piece of bamboo would be found and further still a bead or two from the woman’s
belt. These, Mpechetula would pick up, and leaving a little trail of flour on their way, all
returned to the hut, while he whistled as if calling some one. Suddenly they would be aroused
by the sound as of a lion brushing against the hut walls, as the beasts are known to do,
and next, a loud roar. Mpechetula would immediately open the door half-way so that the
people could look out into the moonlight and there, a little way off, would be the lion. It
would immediately advance towards the house and then, as it prepared to spring for the
door, Mpechetula would offer it some of the flour in his left hand, armed with a stirring-
stick, mtiko, in his right hand. As the lion landed, he would strike it on the head with the
stick and lo and behold! the lion would vanish and the tail and claw would be found in his
hand.
Superstitions. Scattered throughout these notes, particularly under Usawi and Disease,
mention is made of practices which show a strong belief in superstition. Below are given
a number of minor beliefs, and it is interesting to compare them with many well-known
superstitions in other parts of the world.
1. A child who cuts the upper incisor teeth first will be unlucky. Such children used
to be killed by the Yao. (Other tribes make medicine against the threatened ill-luck.)
2. A woman with polydactylism may not take food out of a corn-store. Otherwise the
stock of corn will not last long. (Rudimentary sixth fingers are not uncommon.)
3. An insect called chisyene mesi which lives in the mud at the bottom of pools, if killed
causes the water to dry up.
4. If a boy puts a water-spider in the armpit when learning to swim, he will learn
quickly.
5. A man wishing to prevent rain falling on a day he is making a journey, will wrap
some of the leaves of the mtomoni tree in his loin cloth and go without drinking.