There seems to be no trace of fire-worship in the country. The Barozi will not, however, throw rubbish on their fires and do not expectorate into it, as this would be considered dirty, but there is no veneration for fire as a deity or of divine extraction.
Medicinal, &c.—The majority of cures effected by native doctors are the result of good constitutions, and not science. There are doubtless native remedies that are effective, but as few or any of these have been analysed it is impossible to ascertain their efficacy. Trivial illnesses are attributed to evil spirits residing in the body, and the cure for these is to call in a “doctor,” who makes a roaring fire on which a large pot of herbs and water is boiled. When boiling, the pot is placed on the edge of the fire and covered with a skin. The patient is brought and placed under the skin as well. The proximity to the fire and the steam from the boiling pot cause such heavy perspiration that the patient nearly always faints from exhaustion as well as from the partial suffocation. Any attempt of the patient to withdraw from the covering is sternly prevented, and any groans or spasmodic movements of the patient’s limbs are held to be a sure sign of the egress of the evil spirits. During the sweating the “doctor” dances vigorously, and drums are beaten and songs sung to drive off the evil spirits. As a large number of trivial ailments are caused by malaria, this sweating is often efficacious, but on the other hand, the patients frequently die from exhaustion or pneumonia.
Venereal diseases are very prevalent amongst the Barozi. Syphilis, yaws and gonorrhœa are common. The Barozi affirm that they never knew of any of these ailments till visited by members of other tribes, but this is very dubious. The Barozi do not recognise any difference between syphilis and yaws, which they consider as two forms of one disease. It is commonly stated that a certain cure for venereal diseases can be effected by the sufferer having sexual connexion with a virgin. The fact, however, that children of similar ages commence immoral relations almost as soon as they can walk, may possibly explain why this cure is never effected. No attempt at segregation is made, nor do sufferers of either sex refrain from copulation while suffering from these diseases. Much of the epilepsy now common in the country is undoubtedly due to syphilis. The “doctors” have a reputed cure, and cases are known of in which apparent external healing takes place, but nothing is known or proved of the entire elimination of the disease from the sufferer, or from his or her progeny.
Leprosy is very common throughout the country and is becoming more common as each year passes, although it must be admitted that the increase is very slow and small. In former days the Barozi practised segregation. A hut for the leper was built outside the village, the “doctor” visited him at night, and then never actually came in contact with the leper, but prescribed for him from outside the hut. The leper’s food was cooked after sundown and carried by an old woman and deposited into his bowls and dishes, which were placed outside his hut. To-day it is regrettable that nothing of this sort is done. Lepers mix freely with clean people; leper men marry clean women, clean men marry leprous women. Leprous and clean eat from common dishes, use the same blankets, the same sleeping mats, the same houses. This lapse is more probably due to a spirit of fatalism than anything else, although the Barozi are certainly not notorious for cleanliness or energy. Segregation might be effected. There are large spaces of unoccupied country that might be fenced off and made into enormous leper locations, but the difficulty of obtaining the consent of the Barozi people to such treatment and the expense entailed would be very great. It is noticeable that in those parts of the country where sun-dried barbel and other fish are eaten in large quantities lepers are most numerous.
Blood-letting is very common amongst the Barozi as a form of relief from pain. This is done in two ways, either by cutting a row of gashes about an inch long over the part affected, or else by cupping. To perform the last-mentioned form of blood-letting, the top of a bullock or buck’s horn is taken and pressed over the sore spot which is well damped previously. As it dries, the horn establishes suction, and eventually raises a blister over the sore place. The blister bursts, and a quantity of blood is drawn off by the suction. The horn drops off naturally after the blister bursts. Another method of relieving acute pain is to tie a piece, of bark or string tightly round the affected part. This is more frequently done for pains in the head, chest, and stomach.
Village School Boys, with Parents in foreground
Photo by J. Walton, Esq.
Hauling Boats through Rapids