Superstition In The Interior Of Africa.

SUPERSTITION IN THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA .

TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE FRHEMASOtfs' MAGAZINE AMD MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have sent you a curious and authentic account of the ridiculous superstition of the inhabitants of fche interior of Africa , dated July 19 th , 17 G 9 , which I doubt not will be agreeable to many of your readers . Tours fraternally , JAMES FREDERICK SPURR .

Scarborough , April 25 th , 18 GS . " The Africans are , in general , very superstitiousthe negroes are still more so than the whites , and the polished nations far less than the savages ; but the sole difference that subsists between them is only a greater or less degree of stupiditfuryand rage in

y , , their religious practices and opinions , which are in themselves completely ridiculous . But of all the African superstitions the most absurb , and of course the most prevalent , are the amulets and the mumbojumbo . The amulets , it seems , consist of Arabic characters , intermingled with magic figures drawn

upon paper by the morbuts or priests of the country . According to some writers , this succession of characters consists of nothing more than Arabic passages of the Alcoran ; but these authors have their opponents , who support their opinions with some seeming authority , for , though many learned men , well versed

in the Oriental tongues , have seen these hieroglyphics , they could not discover in them the least traces of the Arabic , or any other Eastern language . But may not this defect be ascribed to the ignorance of the morbuts , who , in general , have not the least learning , and imitate but very imperfectly the Arabic

characters ? Or may they nofc be words of the Maudingo language , written in Arabic characters , or in imitation of them ? Be this as it may , these hieroglyphics are the objects of public veneration , and no negro dare expose himself to the least danger , either in war , hunting , or even in travelling , without being possessed of an amulet , which is considered a powerful charm and certain preservative against wounds and all kinds of fatal accidents . It is true that ibis talisman scarce

ever produces the desired effect ; but this furnishes a subject oF triumph to the morbuts , who ascribe the inefficacy of tbe specific to the vices and immoralit y of the negro who possessed of it . These priests , who are very artful iu giving advice to those who consult them , are the most arrant cheats with regard to the negroand persuade them to believe everything the

, morbuts desire . They have always a great quantity of these amulets , which are sold at various prices , according to the rank of the purchaser ; and they have charms against every disorder incident to human nature , as well as for the obtaining every wish and every desire of what kind soever . They have also

amulets against the effects of storms and venomous reptiles ; and , what is still more agreeable , the possessors of these charms aro always happy in health , and are sure of longevity , and bemg ' nch , honoured , and respected . This is in some degree true , as these charms enrich the morbutsand make them

, respected and happy , as far it is possible for impostors tobe . But these priests , whilst they are thus deceiving the negroes , declare themselves to be completely disinterested . Ifc is true they cannot be

accused of extorting , or even receiving , any money , for there is none in this country , and the very use of it is unknown . The morbuts conscientiously fix a price upon their amulets ; sometimes they are rated at three or four slaves , sometimes at nine or ten oxen , according to the stage of the disease or the

importance of the request . It is to be observed that these talismans are of different forms , according to the uses for which they are destined . * for example , the cephalic charm against disorders in the head are in the shape of a cross , and extend from the forehead to below the nape of the neck , and from ear to ear ;

but they are variously shaped for the different parts of the body—some in the form of horns , which the negroes wear under their caps ; others resemble lizards , serpents , tigers , lions , & c . These amulets , to operate the more successfully , must be applied by themorbufcs themselves , and it is upon these occasions that the impostors greatly astonish the negroes by their convulsive gesticulations , their cries , and invocations .

" The mumbo-jumbo is of still greater consequence than the amulet . Its preservation is immediately under the inspection of the Government , in order to enforce submission from wives to their husbands . This is a very clumsy idol—fche imperfect representation of a man , which is considered by the women

as a supreme intelligence , that incessantly watches their conduct and all their motions , and is acquainted with their most secret thoughts . In order to support the credit and power of the mumbo-jumbo , there is no house without one -, the poor as well as the rich are equally possessed of itand every night after

, sunset the artful husband goes out , and returns in the most secret manner , when he places himself behind fche mumbo-jumbo , and makes the most hideous noise possible , howling like a dog or roaring like a bull . Soon after he joins his wife , who is still greatly terrified , or at least pretends she is so , and relates

what has passed , desiring her husband to interpret the meaning . The negro replies he does not know what all this can mean ,- but that he is convinced the mumbo-jumbo has related in his language an account of his wife ' s conduct , and that , as he did not explain himself more intelligibly , ifc was a sign he was contented ; and after this interpretation he is very well satisfied with his wife ' s behaviour . Such of

thenegro women who are not so stupid as to believe in the power of the mumbo-jumbo , aud who nevertheless choose to deceive their husbands , prostrate themselves before him , and conjure him to be discreet . On the other hand , such of the negroes as are equally superstitious with their wives ascribe every extensive

authority to the mumho , who is greatly respected by them , and is considered as a guarantee of their peace and happiness . Thus is this phantom equally adored by the men and women , and reigns despotically in this savage country . "Some years since the King of Jagra , who was

very fond of his wife , and she being a woman of great curiosity , imparted to her the secret of the mumbo-jumbo , and the manner in which the howling was produced . Tho Queen did nofc , however , abuse his confidence ; but he was weak enough to acquaint some of his favourites with the conversation that had passed between him and bis wife . The chiefs of the negroes , who were already much displeased with their