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King Mombo

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<h2 class='c007'>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> ANGOOKA, THE MEDICINE-MAN—HIS STRANGE APPEARANCE—EAVESDROPPING—I OVERHEAR THE CONVERSATION OF THE SLAVES—THEY TALK AMONG THEMSELVES ABOUT THE OGUIZI. Early the next morning all the slaves on the plantation gathered near Regundo’s house, for I had gone hunting by myself, and they thought I was far away. Suddenly I changed my mind and returned. As I approached the village, I heard voices. I approached cautiously, and when I got a glimpse of the talkers I hid myself in order not to be seen. Angooka was easily recognized, for he was dressed in the garb of the medicine-man. He wore a headdress of gaudy red feathers from the tails of gray parrots. Among these were also eagles’ and hawks’ feathers. On his neck was a necklace made of the beaks of eagles between which were leopards’ claws, while as a pendant hung four leopards’ teeth. Round his waist was a belt to which were fastened cowry shells filled with charmed powder. His body was painted all over with white ochre (chalk), over which were scattered 132round yellow spots. Upon each of his cheeks were two flaming red spots. In his hand he held several charmed skins tied together, holding precious and powerful powders. At a little distance a man was stationed on the top of a slender tree. From there he addressed the medicine-man, and asked him questions about Jockoo or Abamboo, shaking the tree at the same time, to which Angooka replied in a sonorous manner. The business of Angooka was to keep away the evil spirits and destroy witchcraft in the plantation. Angooka suddenly danced in the wildest manner, uttered all sorts of incantations, peered into the face of every one as if to divine their thoughts, and then declared that there were no witches or wizards with them. Then the ceremony came to an end. Near Angooka were Oshoria, Ngola, Ogoola, and Quabi. I heard the medicine-man say to them: “Great indeed is the Oguizi that we have with us. How strange he looks, with his long, straight black hair. His eyes seem to find out the thoughts of a person. Strange that the Oguizi has come to the country of King Mombo, and to you his slaves.” “Where do you think the Oguizi lives?” asked the men of Angooka, who replied: “The Oguizi can disappear from our sight when 133he wishes. He has come to see our land, and one of these days he will go and we shall never see him any more. He will rise in the air unseen and go to the moon.” Regundo then said to the medicine doctor: “Last night we heard a rumbling noise in his house, the striking of a hammer upon an anvil, and saw flashes of light inside through the cracks in the walls. We heard the Oguizi’s incantations. He was then making the things he gives away. When I went into the house in the morning the anvil and hammer were gone, and no remains of fire were to be seen. How strange is the piece of iron which he holds in his hands, to which our knives hang without dropping! How wonderful are his little sticks from which fire springs! How wonderful are the strange boxes [the Waterbury clock and the musical box] full of spirits that are talking to him.” I did not want them to know that I had been listening to them, and when I finally revealed myself and went toward them, I acted as if I had heard nothing. 134 <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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