The chiefs were very glad to hear of this, and sent Amoru round the towns, when he received many presents of cloth, rods, and tombo.
The people then collected all the ashes of the witches who had been burnt and threw them into the river, saying they had got rid of all the witches in their town.
The chiefs then ordered two cows to be killed to make a feast, and a big play was held.
A month later Chief ’Ndabu died and his funeral was attended by all the chiefs and people of the town. His body was dressed up in his best clothes and it was made to sit up in a chair, some of his wives fanning it to keep the flies off. It was kept there for three days, and the chiefs sat round the dead body and eat their food, but each mouthful was first offered to the dead man to eat. Those people who were very fond of ’Ndabu went so far as to touch his mouth with the food before they eat it.
The body was then wrapped up in sleeping mats and buried, and many rods and pieces of cloth were placed in the grave.
Nkanyan then took the place of his father and looked after his mother and brothers and sisters, who lived in peace and died natural deaths without being troubled by witches.
Told by Ennenni, an Okuni woman.—[E.D., 16.6.10.]
XIII.—Of Chief Amaza, his wife Achi and the Tortoise.
Achi was a fine-looking Okuni woman, the wife of Chief Amaza. He was very fond of her and would not have any other wives.
She lived with her husband for some time, and eventually conceived. The chief then told his wife that she was not to go out of the house as she might give birth to the child when there was no one about to help her.