CONTENTS

PAGE
[CHAPTER I]
Constitution of Native African Society—Sociology[1]
I.The Country[2]
II.The Family[3]
Family Responsibility.—Family Headship.—Marital Relations.—Arrangementsfor Marriage.—Courtship and Wedding.—Dissolution of Marriage.—Illegitimate Marital Relations.—Domestic Life.
III.Succession to Property and Authority[13]
IV.Political Organization[13]
V.Servants[14]
VI.Kingship[15]
VII.Fetich Doctors[16]
VIII.Hospitality[17]
IX.Judicial System[17]
Courts.—Punishment.—Blood-Atonement and Fines.—Punishable Acts.
X.Territorial Relations[22]
Tenure.—Rights in Movables.
XI.Exchange Relations[23]
XII.Religion[25]
[CHAPTER II]
The Idea of God—Religion[26]
Theology, Religion, Creed, Worship.—Source of the Knowledge of God; outside of us; comes from God; Evolution ofPhysical Species.—Materialism; Knowledge of God not evolved.—Superstition in all Religions.—Dominant in AfricanReligion.—No People without a Knowledge of at least the Name of God.—Testimony of Travellers and Others.
[CHAPTER III]
Polytheism—Idolatry[42]
Religion and Civilization.—Worship of NaturalObjects.—Polytheism.—Idolatry.—Worship of Ancestors.—Fetichism.
[CHAPTER IV]
Spiritual Beings in African Religion[50]
I.Origin[50]
Coterminous with the Creator.—Created.—Spirits ofDeceased Human Beings; in Unity, Duality, Trinity, or Quadruplicity.
II.Number[55]
III.Locality[58]
IV.Characteristics[62]
[CHAPTER V]
Spiritual Beings in Africa—Their Classes and Functions[64]
I.Classes and Functions[64]
Inina.—Ibambo.—Ombwiri.—Nkinda.—Mondi.
II.Special Manifestations[70]
Human Soul in a Lower Animal; the Leopard Fiend.—Uvengwa, Ghost.—Family Guardian-Spirit.
[CHAPTER VI]
Fetichism—Its Philosophy—A Physical Salvation—Charms and Amulets[75]
Monotheism.—Polytheism.—Animism.—Fetichism.
The Salvation Sought: its Kind, Physical; its Source, Spirits; its Reason, Fear.
The Means used: Prayer, Sacrifices, Charms; Vocal, Ritual, Material, Fetiches.
Articles used in the Fetich.—Mode of Preparation: A Fitness in the Quality of the Object for the End desired; Efficiencydepends on the Localized Spirit; Misuse of the Word “Medicine”; Native “Doctors”; Connection of Fetich with Witchcraft.
[CHAPTER VII]
The Fetich—A Worship[90]
I.Sacrifice and Offerings[91]
Small Votive Gifts.—Consecrated Plants; Idols and Gifts of Food.—Blood Sacrifices.—Human Sacrifices.
II.Prayer[97]
III.The Use of Charms or “Fetiches”[99]
[CHAPTER VIII]
The Fetich—Witchcraft—A White Art—Sorcery[100]
A passively Defensive Art.—Professedly of the Nature of a Medicine.—Distinction between a Fetich Doctor and a ChristianPhysician.—Manner of Performance of the White Art.—The Medicinal Herbs used sometimes Valuable.—Strength of Native Faith in the System.
[CHAPTER IX]
The Fetich—Witchcraft—A Black Art—Demonology[116]
Distinction as to the Object aimed at in the White Art and in the Black Art.—Black Art actively Offensive.—The BlackArt distinctively “Witchcraft.”—Witchcraft Executions; claimed to be Judicial Acts.—Hoodoo Worship.—Christian Faith andFetich Faith Compared.—Deception by Fetich Magicians.—Clairvoyance.—Demoniacal Possession.
[CHAPTER X]
Fetichism—A Government[138]
Egbo, Ukuku, Yasi, and other Societies.—Their Power either to protect or oppress.—Contestwith Ukuku at Benita, and with Yasi on the Ogowe.
[CHAPTER XI]
The Fetich—Its Relation to the Family[156]
The Family the Unit in the African Community.—Respect for the Aged.—Worship ofAncestors.—Family Fetiches; Yâkâ, Ekongi, Mbati.
[CHAPTER XII]
The Fetich—Its Relations to Daily Work and Occupations and to the Needs of Life[172]
Hunting.—Journeying.—Warring.—Trading; Okundu andMbumbu.—Sickness.—Loving.—Fishing.—Planting.
[CHAPTER XIII]
The Fetich—Superstition in Customs[191]
Rules of Pregnancy.—Omens on Journeys.—Leopard Fiends.—Luck.—Twins.—Customsof Speech.—Oaths.—Totem Worship.—Taboo; Orunda.—Baptism.—Spitting.—Notice of Children.
[CHAPTER XIV]
Fetich—Its Relation to the Future Life—Ceremonies at Deaths and Funerals[215]
Sickness, Death, Burial, Modes of Burial.—Mourning, Treatment of Widows.—WitchcraftInvestigations.—Places of Burial.—Cannibalism—Family Quarrel as to Precedence in the Burying.—Customof “Lifting Up” of Mourners.—Ukuku Dance for Amusement.—Destination of the Dead.—Transmigration.
[CHAPTER XV]
Fetichism—Some of its Practical Effects[239]
Depopulation.—Cannibalism.—Secret Societies (Ukuku, Yasi, Mwetyi, Bweti, Indâ, Njĕmbĕ).—Poisoningfor Revenge.—Distrust.—Jugglery.—Treatment of Lunatics.—The American Negro Hoodoo.—Folk-Lore.
[CHAPTER XVI]
Tales of Fetich Based on Fact[277]
I.A Witch Sweetheart[278]
II.A Jealous Wife[281]
III.Witchcraft Mothers[284]
IV.The Wizard House-Breaker[287]
V.The Wizard Murderer[289]
VI.The Wizard and his Invisible Dog[293]
VII.Spirit-Dancing[295]
VIII.Asiki, or the Little Beings[299]
IX.Okove[302]
X.The Family Idols (Okâsi, Barbarity, The Right of Sanctuary)[308]
XI.Unago and Ekela (A Proverb)[318]
XII.Malanda—An Initiation into a Family Guardian-Spirit Company[320]
XIII.Three-Things Came Back too Late[326]
[CHAPTER XVII]
Fetich in Folk-Lore[330]
I.Queen Ngwe-nkonde and her Manja[332]
II.The Beautiful Daughter[337]
III.The Husband that Came from an Animal[346]
IV.The Fairy Wife[351]
V.The Thieves and their Enchanted House[358]
VI.Banga-of-the-five-faces[367]
VII.The Two Brothers[372]
VIII.Jĕki and his Ozâzi[378]
Glossary[387]