In African Forest and Jungle

by Paul B. Du Chaillu

One morning he left the camp all alone, and returned in the afternoon with a big load of palm leaves. The following day he went again into the forest by himself, and returned with a big load of bark. That afternoon he began to build a very small house, and roofed it with the palm leaves, and then made a sliding door of bark. I wondered at his doings, and I asked him why he made such a small house.

He answered: "Oguizi, two days from now will be the day of the new moon, and though we cannot see the moon, on account of the trees, her eyes can penetrate everywhere. The new moon is especially angry and hungry on that day. She looks down over our country and seeks whom she can devour, and we poor black men are very much afraid of her on that account, and we hide ourselves from her sight on that night." After a pause he continued: "From the time of the new moon to that of the full moon many people die, and many amongst those are the ones whom the new moon saw on her appearance in spite of all the precautions they may have taken.

"So the night of the new moon I will go into the little house I have just built, and remain silent all that night, for if I spoke the new moon would know where I was. I am going to bring plenty of firewood for you." Then, with great earnestness and imploring eyes, he said: "Please, Oguizi, put the wood yourself on the fire, and do not call me out of the house, for if I come out the moon is sure to see me and I shall be a doomed man." And as he uttered these last words he shuddered with fear, and then added: "Rogala, if seen by the new moon, could not be with you the next moon, for he would surely die before then."

The following morning Rogala collected a large quantity of firewood, enough to last a few days. Towards noon he spoke to his "ogana," or idol, thus: "You know that I love you with all my heart. I believe in you. Protect me from the spears, arrows, and guns of my enemies. Let all those who try to bewitch me and afflict me with illness or bad luck in hunting and fishing, die. Let our people find out the witches and sorcerers that cause sickness and death amongst us."

Towards noon on that day he took his gun and went hunting, leaving Ndova and Andekko behind. Two hours afterwards he returned with a gazelle, or "nchombee," on his back, and laid the animal at my feet, saying: "I have killed this. Please take all you want for yourself."

Andekko was looking with a hungry eye towards the nchombee, but the long stick of Rogala kept him at a proper distance. I cut off one of the forelegs and threw it to the dog. Ndova was chattering at the same time, looking searchingly at Rogala. The sounds he uttered seemed to mean, "Have you brought me no berries, fruits, or nuts?" Rogala had brought him nothing, and he was very much disappointed.

I chose half of the nchombee; then Rogala broiled the other part on charcoal, and when it was cooked took almost all of it and went into the forest, whither I followed him. He walked but a short distance, and then stopped before some very large leaves. He plucked a few, and put them together on the ground, and laid the meat of the nchombee upon them, saying: "Olombo and Mombo, this nchombee is for you. You know that I love you, and that I always give you the best part of the game I kill." After this sacrifice we returned to the camp.

Rogala and his idol.

Soon after he entered the little house he had built, taking his bag with him, and shut the door behind him. I heard him speak to his idol. When he came out, his body was painted here and there. In the hollow of his chest was a white spot, in the middle of his forehead a white line between his eyes, and there were long white stripes along his arms. He wore all the mondahs his bag contained. He came towards me, and looking at me, said: "Oguizi, sunset is soon coming, and I must go into the little house, and I shall remain there until after sunrise. You have plenty of firewood. You have meat. There is plenty of water in the spring, so you will be neither thirsty nor hungry."