A.Abuna, abundance.Aganlo, children of mixed mortal and fairy birth.Akazya, a poisonous tree.Amie, do not know.Anlingo, water.Antyâ(sing.intyâ), eyes.Anyambe, the Divine Name.Awĕmĕ, yourself.Ayĕnwĕ, unseen.B.Bâbâkâ, consent thou.Behu, kitchen garden.Benda, a kind of rat.Biañ, medicine.Bobâbu, soft.Bohamba, a certain medicinal tree.Boka, a certain medicinal tree.Bokadi, a certain medicinal tree.Bokuda, a certain medicinal tree.Bolondo, a poisonous tree.Bongâm, a certain medicinal tree.Botombaka, passing away.Buhwa, day.Bwanga, medicine.D.Dâgula, Mr., a title of respect.Diba, marriage.Diyâ, the hearth; a household.Diyaka, to live.E.Ebâbi, a male love philtre.Egona, a small antelope horn.Ehongo, a cornucopia.Ekongi, a guardian-spirit fetich.Ekope, a girdle.Elâmbâ, a certain medicinal tree.Elinga, a basket.Etomba, tribe.Evove, harlot.Ewiria, words of hidden meaning.F.Fufu, mashed, boiled ripe plantains.G.Go, to, in, at.Greegree(gris-gris), fetich amulet.Gumbo, okra.Gwandere, a medicine for worms.H.Haye, will not do.Hume, a certain fish.I.Ibambo(pl.abambo), ghosts.Ibâtâ, a blessing.Iga, the forest.Iguga, woe.Ihĕli, a gazelle.Ijawe(pl.majawe), blood relative.Ikaka(pl.makaka), family name.Ilala, an arch; a stairway.Ilina(pl.malina), soul.Ina, my mother.Ininla(pl.anlinla), soul.Injĕnji, a certain leaf; fault.Isakiliya, kindling-wood.Isiki(pl.asiki), a dwarf changeling.Itaka, a kitchen hanging-shelf.Itala, a view.Ivaha, a wish.Ivenda(pl.ampenda), glory.Iyele, a female love philtre.J.Ja, of.Jaka, to beget.Joba, the sun.Jomba, meat cooked in a bundle of plantain leaves.Juju, an amulet.K.Kâ, and you.Kasa, a lash.Keva, to surpass.Kilinga, a kind of bird.Kimbwa-mbenje, native bark-cloth.Kna, a kind of bird.Knakna, a large kind of bird.Koka, a large kind of bird.Kombo, a superstitious ejaculation.Konde, queen.Kota, a certain tree.Kulu, a kind of spirit.Kumu, a stump.Kwedi, time of mourning.L.Lale, my father.M.Mabili, an east-wind fetich.Mba, not I.Mbenda, ground-nut.Mbi, I.Mbinde, a wild goat.Mbolo, gray hairs; a salutation.Mbulu, a wild dog.Mbumbu, rainbow.Mbundu, poison ordeal.Mbwa(pl.imbwa), dog.Mbwaye, a poison test.Mehole, ripe plantains.Miba, water.Miĕ, me.Monda, witchcraft medicine.Mondi(pl.myondi), a class of spirits.Mpazya, skin disease.Mulimate, a small horn for cupping.Musimo, spirits of the dead.Muskwa, a medicinal brush.Mutira, a medicinal stick.Mvia, a kind of bird.Mwana, a child.Mwanga, a plantation.N.Na, with.Ndabo, house.Ndĕmbĕ, young.Nduma, a kind of snake.Ngalo, a guardian-spirit charm.Ngâma, a water plant.Ngândâ, gourd seeds.Ngânde, moon.Ngofu, an iron fetich bracelet.Ngunye, a flying-squirrel.Nguwu, hippopotamus.Ngwe, mother.Njabi, a wild oily fruit.Njĕgâ, leopard.Nkâlâ, a large snail.Nkânjâ, a marriage dance.Nkendo, a magician’s bell.Nkinda(pl.sinkinda), a class of spirits.Nsânâ, Sunday.Nsinsim, a shadow.Ntori, a large forest rat.Ntyĕgĕ, a monkey.Nungwa, open thou.Nunja, shut thou.Nyamba, a scarf slung over the right shoulder, in which to carry a babe.Nyemba, witchcraft.Nyolo, body.O.Odika, kernel of the wild mango.Oganga, doctor.Ogĕndâ, a journey.Ogwĕrina, rear of a house.Okove, a powerful fetich.Okume, African mahogany tree.Okundu, a kind of fetich for trading.Olâgâ(pl.ilâgâ), a class of spirits.Olako, a camping place.Ombwiri(pl.awiri), a class of spirits.Ompunga, wind.Orala, a hanging shelf over a fireplace.Oraniga, last-born.Orâwo, insult.Orĕga, the Njĕmbĕ secret society drum.Orunda, a prohibition; taboo.Osĕngĕ, a cleared place in the forest.Ovâvi(pl.ivâvi), messenger.Owavi(pl.sijavi), a leaf.Ozyâzi, a pestle.Ozyoto, a cornucopia.P.Paia, my father.Pavo, a knife.Pĕkĕ, ever.R.Rera, my father.S.Saba, an oath.Sabali, an oath.Sale, hail!T.Tamba, the womb.Tubĕ, a certain leaf.Tuwaka, bless; spitU.Udinge, a great person.Ukuku(pl.mekuku), spirit; secret society.Ukwala, a machete.Untyanya, a medicinal bark.Unyongo, a medicinal tree.Upuma, a period of six months.Utodu, old.Uvengwa, a phantom.V.Veya, fire.Y.Yâginla,imperative, hear thou.Yâkâ, a family fetich.
A.
Abuna, abundance.
Aganlo, children of mixed mortal and fairy birth.
Akazya, a poisonous tree.
Amie, do not know.
Anlingo, water.
Antyâ(sing.intyâ), eyes.
Anyambe, the Divine Name.
Awĕmĕ, yourself.
Ayĕnwĕ, unseen.
B.
Bâbâkâ, consent thou.
Behu, kitchen garden.
Benda, a kind of rat.
Biañ, medicine.
Bobâbu, soft.
Bohamba, a certain medicinal tree.
Boka, a certain medicinal tree.
Bokadi, a certain medicinal tree.
Bokuda, a certain medicinal tree.
Bolondo, a poisonous tree.
Bongâm, a certain medicinal tree.
Botombaka, passing away.
Buhwa, day.
Bwanga, medicine.
D.
Dâgula, Mr., a title of respect.
Diba, marriage.
Diyâ, the hearth; a household.
Diyaka, to live.
E.
Ebâbi, a male love philtre.
Egona, a small antelope horn.
Ehongo, a cornucopia.
Ekongi, a guardian-spirit fetich.
Ekope, a girdle.
Elâmbâ, a certain medicinal tree.
Elinga, a basket.
Etomba, tribe.
Evove, harlot.
Ewiria, words of hidden meaning.
F.
Fufu, mashed, boiled ripe plantains.
G.
Go, to, in, at.
Greegree(gris-gris), fetich amulet.
Gumbo, okra.
Gwandere, a medicine for worms.
H.
Haye, will not do.
Hume, a certain fish.
I.
Ibambo(pl.abambo), ghosts.
Ibâtâ, a blessing.
Iga, the forest.
Iguga, woe.
Ihĕli, a gazelle.
Ijawe(pl.majawe), blood relative.
Ikaka(pl.makaka), family name.
Ilala, an arch; a stairway.
Ilina(pl.malina), soul.
Ina, my mother.
Ininla(pl.anlinla), soul.
Injĕnji, a certain leaf; fault.
Isakiliya, kindling-wood.
Isiki(pl.asiki), a dwarf changeling.
Itaka, a kitchen hanging-shelf.
Itala, a view.
Ivaha, a wish.
Ivenda(pl.ampenda), glory.
Iyele, a female love philtre.
J.
Ja, of.
Jaka, to beget.
Joba, the sun.
Jomba, meat cooked in a bundle of plantain leaves.
Juju, an amulet.
K.
Kâ, and you.
Kasa, a lash.
Keva, to surpass.
Kilinga, a kind of bird.
Kimbwa-mbenje, native bark-cloth.
Kna, a kind of bird.
Knakna, a large kind of bird.
Koka, a large kind of bird.
Kombo, a superstitious ejaculation.
Konde, queen.
Kota, a certain tree.
Kulu, a kind of spirit.
Kumu, a stump.
Kwedi, time of mourning.
L.
Lale, my father.
M.
Mabili, an east-wind fetich.
Mba, not I.
Mbenda, ground-nut.
Mbi, I.
Mbinde, a wild goat.
Mbolo, gray hairs; a salutation.
Mbulu, a wild dog.
Mbumbu, rainbow.
Mbundu, poison ordeal.
Mbwa(pl.imbwa), dog.
Mbwaye, a poison test.
Mehole, ripe plantains.
Miba, water.
Miĕ, me.
Monda, witchcraft medicine.
Mondi(pl.myondi), a class of spirits.
Mpazya, skin disease.
Mulimate, a small horn for cupping.
Musimo, spirits of the dead.
Muskwa, a medicinal brush.
Mutira, a medicinal stick.
Mvia, a kind of bird.
Mwana, a child.
Mwanga, a plantation.
N.
Na, with.
Ndabo, house.
Ndĕmbĕ, young.
Nduma, a kind of snake.
Ngalo, a guardian-spirit charm.
Ngâma, a water plant.
Ngândâ, gourd seeds.
Ngânde, moon.
Ngofu, an iron fetich bracelet.
Ngunye, a flying-squirrel.
Nguwu, hippopotamus.
Ngwe, mother.
Njabi, a wild oily fruit.
Njĕgâ, leopard.
Nkâlâ, a large snail.
Nkânjâ, a marriage dance.
Nkendo, a magician’s bell.
Nkinda(pl.sinkinda), a class of spirits.
Nsânâ, Sunday.
Nsinsim, a shadow.
Ntori, a large forest rat.
Ntyĕgĕ, a monkey.
Nungwa, open thou.
Nunja, shut thou.
Nyamba, a scarf slung over the right shoulder, in which to carry a babe.
Nyemba, witchcraft.
Nyolo, body.
O.
Odika, kernel of the wild mango.
Oganga, doctor.
Ogĕndâ, a journey.
Ogwĕrina, rear of a house.
Okove, a powerful fetich.
Okume, African mahogany tree.
Okundu, a kind of fetich for trading.
Olâgâ(pl.ilâgâ), a class of spirits.
Olako, a camping place.
Ombwiri(pl.awiri), a class of spirits.
Ompunga, wind.
Orala, a hanging shelf over a fireplace.
Oraniga, last-born.
Orâwo, insult.
Orĕga, the Njĕmbĕ secret society drum.
Orunda, a prohibition; taboo.
Osĕngĕ, a cleared place in the forest.
Ovâvi(pl.ivâvi), messenger.
Owavi(pl.sijavi), a leaf.
Ozyâzi, a pestle.
Ozyoto, a cornucopia.
P.
Paia, my father.
Pavo, a knife.
Pĕkĕ, ever.
R.
Rera, my father.
S.
Saba, an oath.
Sabali, an oath.
Sale, hail!
T.
Tamba, the womb.
Tubĕ, a certain leaf.
Tuwaka, bless; spit
U.
Udinge, a great person.
Ukuku(pl.mekuku), spirit; secret society.
Ukwala, a machete.
Untyanya, a medicinal bark.
Unyongo, a medicinal tree.
Upuma, a period of six months.
Utodu, old.
Uvengwa, a phantom.
V.
Veya, fire.
Y.
Yâginla,imperative, hear thou.
Yâkâ, a family fetich.
Footnotes:
[1]Gen. xxx. 15-16.
[2]Gen. xxix. 26.
[3]Trumbull, Blood Covenant, p. 311.
[4]Trumbull, Blood Covenant, p. 4.
[5]Garenganze, p. 79.
[6]Rom. i. 28, margin.
[7]Rom. i. 30.
[8]Three Years in Savage Africa, p. 74.
[9]Western Africa, p. 209.
[10]I am strongly disposed to think that, in its origin, there was a sacrificial idea connected with cannibalism.—R. H. N.
[11]Gen. iv. 2.
[12]Gen. iv. 17.
[13]Gen. iv. 21, 22.
[14]Heb. xi. 4.
[15]Gen. iii. 21.
[16]Joshua xxii. 34.
[17]John xx. 29.
[18]1 Sam. vi. 3.
[19]Dan. iii. 29.
[20]History of Religion, pp. 129et seq.
[21]Western Africa, p. 207.
[22]Wilson.
[23]Crowned in Palmland, p. 234.
[24]Declè.
[25]J. L. Wilson.
[26]J. L. Wilson.
[27]Declè.
[28]Wilson, Western Africa.
[29]Menzies, History of Religion, p. 33.
[30]Wilson, Western Africa, p. 212.
[31]Garenganze, p. 237.
[32]Menzies, History of Religion, p. 73.
[33]Those nails were not mere “ornaments.” They were the records of the number of persons who had been transfixed by death or disease under the power of that fetich idol. A similar custom is known in the West Indies and in the southern United States. For every pin stuck into a wax figure intended to represent the person to be injured, some sickness or other evil will fall on him. Wilkie Collins also utilized this superstition in his novel, “I say, No.”—R. H. N.
[34]Declè.
[35]History of Religion, pp. 65, 69.
[36]Garenganze, p. 77.
[37]Three Years in Savage Africa.
[38]I saw the same on the Ogowe.—R. H. N.
[39]These piles I have found at almost every village I have visited.—R. H. N.
[40]Declè, p. 346.
[41]Menzies.
[42]Declè.
[43]Hosea xiii. 2.
[44]Acts xv. 29.
[45]Brown, On the South African Frontier, p. 113.
[46]Arnot, Garenganze, p. 106.
[47]This would be what I have denominated the “white art.”—R. H. N.
[48]In that part of Africa.—R. H. N.
[49]Really, only a difference in administration.—R. H. N.
[50]Declè, Three Years in Savage Africa, pp. 152, 154, 294.
[51]Arnot, Garenganze, p. 115.
[52]And, similarly, I have known the fimbriated extremities of the fallopian tubes in a woman held up as a proof of her having been a witch. The ciliary movements of these fimbriæ were regarded as the efforts of her “familiar” at a process of eating. The decision was that she had been “eaten” to death by her own offended familiar.—R. H. N.
[53]Wilson, Western Africa, p. 398.
[54]Brown, On the South African Frontier.
[55]Ex. xxii. 18.
[56]I Sam. xxvii. 11-15.
[57]Verse 12.
[58]Wilson, Western Africa, p. 275.
[59]Wilson, Western Africa, p. 393.
[60]Ibid.
[61]Wilson, Western Africa.
[62]To a native African that is a much greater wrong than stealing from other people, particularly from foreigners.—R. H. N.
[63]On the South African Frontier, p. 214.
[64]Garenganze, p. 207.
[65]Arnot.
[66]Brown, On the South African Frontier.
[67]Tale 23, p. 93, my “Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Fjort.”
[68]Arnot.
[69]Declè.
[70]See “Niger and Yoruba Notes.”
[71]From a West African newspaper.
[72]Menzies, History of Religion, p. 71.
[73]See an illustration of it on p. 102 of my “Crowned in Palm-Land”; an infant is lying on a plantain leaf in the street.
[74]Wilson, Western Africa.
[75]Declè.
[76]Among Cannibals, pp. 278-279.
[77]Arnot, Garenganze, p. 116.
[78]Declè, Three Years in Savage Africa, pp. 74-79.
[79]Declè.
[80]Arnot, p. 76.
[81]Three Years in Savage Africa, p. 512.
[82]Wilson.
[83]P. 513.
[84]I know of its occurring on the Gabun and Ogowe rivers on the West Coast.—R. H. N.
[85]P. 107.
[86]P. 115.
[87]Trumbull, p. 129.
[88]Western Africa, p. 397.
[89]Wilson, Western Africa.
[90]Garenganze, p. 107.
[91]Niger and Yoruba Notes.
[92]Wilson.