DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0326
310 HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
30. If a chameleon is found holding on to the grass at both sides of the path, the path
is “ closed ” and a man will turn back to his home and not proceed on his journey. It
would be unlucky to continue.
31. Snakes seen in coitu are a bad omen.
32. The slow-worm known as litumbula masugulu (“ the cutter open of ant hills ”),
and the scaly anteater, if seen on the path, are of bad import.
33. To knock the toes against a stone on a journey is bad luck; if blood flows from the
big toe, it points to good luck.
34. A man knocking the sole of his foot against a stone knows that some one is speaking
ill of him.
35. A person whose hands itch knows he will receive a present.
36. Tremor of the circumorbital muscles of the right eye indicates that something
good will be seen. When the left eye is affected, the outcome is less sure.
37. The cry of the bird ngulukulu (the green turaco), indicates to the hearer that he is
about to meet some one, either friend or enemy.
38. Anyone who kills one of the large stick-insects (Phasmidae) known as chikasa
chiwiga, will always be breaking the cooking pots afterwards.
39. The natives believe that the caterpillar of the Hippotion osiris moth will jump at
the breast. It is called chisumbila mawele, “ that which jumps at the breasts,” and children
seeing it will cover up their nipples with their hands.
40. Of Lisulu, the Mongoose, there is a saying:
“ Lisulu gapochelangene mbilo!”
“ The banded mongooses relieve each other (at) the races! ”
It is said that mongooses assist one another when being hunted. When one is tired, a
fresh one runs in so close to the pursuer that he goes after this one and leaves the tired
one, and so they keep it up till the pursuer is exhausted.
41. Chiula, the frog. Children are told they must never kill a frog, or its spirit will come
at night with porridge made of excrement and make them eat it. If a small child playing
with a frog kills it by mischance, he will tear off a small piece of his calico cloth and place
it by the frog as an offering.
42. Chindindi (likongwe, Chin.) the weasel. It is said that the weasel hides its body
and leaves exposed its anus, so that a chicken seeing it, goes up to peck at it, whereupon
the weasel turns round quickly and catches the chicken with its mouth.
43. Chinyeru, the skunk (from ku-nya, to go to stool), so named on account of its
color, is said to apply the anus to a rat-hole and make wind. This will render insensible
all the rats in the burrow and he can then dig them out at leisure.
44. Mkuli, the honey badger, when hunted is always said to attack a man by attempting
to seize the testicles. Natives when they hunt this animal, tie stones in their loin cloths so
that they hang down between the legs to defeat the badger.
30. If a chameleon is found holding on to the grass at both sides of the path, the path
is “ closed ” and a man will turn back to his home and not proceed on his journey. It
would be unlucky to continue.
31. Snakes seen in coitu are a bad omen.
32. The slow-worm known as litumbula masugulu (“ the cutter open of ant hills ”),
and the scaly anteater, if seen on the path, are of bad import.
33. To knock the toes against a stone on a journey is bad luck; if blood flows from the
big toe, it points to good luck.
34. A man knocking the sole of his foot against a stone knows that some one is speaking
ill of him.
35. A person whose hands itch knows he will receive a present.
36. Tremor of the circumorbital muscles of the right eye indicates that something
good will be seen. When the left eye is affected, the outcome is less sure.
37. The cry of the bird ngulukulu (the green turaco), indicates to the hearer that he is
about to meet some one, either friend or enemy.
38. Anyone who kills one of the large stick-insects (Phasmidae) known as chikasa
chiwiga, will always be breaking the cooking pots afterwards.
39. The natives believe that the caterpillar of the Hippotion osiris moth will jump at
the breast. It is called chisumbila mawele, “ that which jumps at the breasts,” and children
seeing it will cover up their nipples with their hands.
40. Of Lisulu, the Mongoose, there is a saying:
“ Lisulu gapochelangene mbilo!”
“ The banded mongooses relieve each other (at) the races! ”
It is said that mongooses assist one another when being hunted. When one is tired, a
fresh one runs in so close to the pursuer that he goes after this one and leaves the tired
one, and so they keep it up till the pursuer is exhausted.
41. Chiula, the frog. Children are told they must never kill a frog, or its spirit will come
at night with porridge made of excrement and make them eat it. If a small child playing
with a frog kills it by mischance, he will tear off a small piece of his calico cloth and place
it by the frog as an offering.
42. Chindindi (likongwe, Chin.) the weasel. It is said that the weasel hides its body
and leaves exposed its anus, so that a chicken seeing it, goes up to peck at it, whereupon
the weasel turns round quickly and catches the chicken with its mouth.
43. Chinyeru, the skunk (from ku-nya, to go to stool), so named on account of its
color, is said to apply the anus to a rat-hole and make wind. This will render insensible
all the rats in the burrow and he can then dig them out at leisure.
44. Mkuli, the honey badger, when hunted is always said to attack a man by attempting
to seize the testicles. Natives when they hunt this animal, tie stones in their loin cloths so
that they hang down between the legs to defeat the badger.