t.
Thrice had the women planted their gardens in vain, the seed, after just
vegetating, was killed by the intense dry heat. A fourth planting shared
the same hard fate, and then some of the knowing ones discovered the
cause of the clouds being frightened away: our unlucky rain-gauge in the
garden. We got a bad name through that same rain-gauge, and were
regarded by many as a species of evil omen. The Makololo in turn blamed
the people of Tette for drought: "A number of witches live here, who
won't let it rain." Africans in general are sufficiently superstitious,
but those of Tette are in this particular pre-eminent above their
fellows. Coming from many different tribes, all the rays of the separate
superstitions converge into a focus at Tette, and burn out common sense
from the minds of the mixed breed. They believe that many evil spirits
live in the air, the earth, and the water. These invisible malicious
beings are thought to inflict much suffering on the human race; but, as
they have a weakness for beer and a craving for food, they may be
propitiated from time to time by offerings of meat and drink. The
serpent is an object of worship, and hideous little images are hung in
the huts of the sick and dying. The uncontaminated Africans believe that
Morungo, the Great Spirit who formed all things, lives above the stars;
but they never pray to him, and know nothing of their relation to him, or
of his interest in them. The spirits of their departed ancestors are all
good, according to their ideas, and on special occasions aid them in
their enterprises. When a man has his hair cut, he is careful to burn
it, or bury it secretly, lest, falling into the hands of one who has an
evil eye, or is a witch, it should be used as a charm to afflict him with
headache. They believe, too, that they will live after the death of the
body, but do not know anything of the state of the Barimo (gods, or
departed spirits).

The mango-tree grows luxuriantly above Lupata, and furnishes a grateful
shade. Its delicious fruit is superior to that on the coast. For weeks
the natives who have charge of the mangoes live entirely on the fruit,
and, as some trees bear in November and some in March, while the main
crop comes between, fruit in abundance may easily be obtained during four
months of the year; but no native can be induced to plant a mango. A
wide-spread superstition has become riveted in the native mind, that if
any one plants th