The fieldnotes of Professor Farnham Rehfisch
Contents
Introduction to the notes by David Zeitlyn
Diary
The fieldnotes of Professor Farnham Rehfisch
Marriage Notes
Mambila Markets
Factors Inhibiting the Spread of Islam among the Pagan Mambila
BEGINNING NEW NOTE BOOK I BELIEVE THAT IT IS FIRST OF THE WHOLE SERIES
Frederick
gave name to Ian
s children, he is big man of Ian
's group. Father does not give name but Father's older kinsman does. If father has no older brother or other relative then he may give name. Play name given by husband to wife, Father and mother in law use girls real name. Wife does not call her husband by his real name until she bears a child. Often name of deceased grandparent given to boy, either line. Mother's father gives child another name and mother's mothers people also give him a name.
Corn
. Plant corn according to the position of the moon. Wait until rain starts. Burn grass before rains. Small rains before big rains.
Colin
says Jan 21. Bruno
may be used for father's brother if he is acting in loco parentis. Colin
says that that wife does not call her husband by name if people around, she is ashamed to do so. Husband may call wife by name.
Colin
on medicines
Everyone has herbs for certain illnesses. If I am ill I first go to tarantula to discover who bewitched me. Tarantula says Colin
bewitched me. My elders go to see Colin
and ask why he does so. Colin
says that he doesn't. My kin and Colin
each take a fowl and take them to "LI" or "Mber" man. The latter gives them sasswood if his fowl dies it shows that he is a witch. He then must replace him, either a man or a woman. Mambila believe that there are many witches both male and female. Sometimes witchcraft is hereditary sometimes not. A witch steals part of a mans meat when he is asleep. Witch called
dibul
. A male witch is not dibuli. Mi dubul wo= I bewitch you.
Around Rest House is medicine to keep Europeans calm, called Leval.
Mambila can tell whether farm land good or not by the grass that grows there. One can come to live in Warwar if one has friends there. Usually farms given to Ego by members of his kin group. Friends also can do so. Chief only owns his own farms. When bush burned owner gets a share of animals killed. Those who have hunted all get a share. The first spearer gets two backlegs, head, lungs and heart. Second spearer gets one front leg as does third. 3rd gets neck. Fourth gets last joint of hind legs and intestines. Rest divided among all comers.
No marriage allowed during harvesting of guinea-corn. No sleeping with wife before hunting or wrestling matches by the wrestlers. Some people don't sleep with their wives when making corn beer.
Dia=copulate. Never use bad words like dia before older kin, mother or big men. It would be a shameful thing to do so. No farting before elders, sisters, mothers, father, etc.
What Colin
calls age grades.
4 groups for boys. 7-8 one group
10-14
14-18
18-23
Boys of certain age usually play and work together. Ndalup means young unmarried men. Circumcision between 8 and 12. One special man does this as he has skill. Vilip means young unmarried girls.
Tasks of various Age categories.
Boys and girls 7-8. Carry water, catch fowls in the evening to put in house. Look after babies. Peel Argusi
Boys 9-14
Help parents, especially fathers in farm work, chase birds from guinea-corn. Make traps for birds and animals. Dance and wrestle together. Learn to work together. Swim. Practice throwing spears. Learn to make mats, bags.Begin to learn to oil their bodies and decorate themselves. No necklaces or bracelets worn yet.
Boys 14-18. Much the same as above, except less trapping and playing. Really do serious wrestling, hunting. Make bags, nets for both fish and animals. Make beads and necklaces. Colin
says to enter next group, but Warwar people say no. Make feasts (Kulum=corn beer feasts. Begin getting special friend (Bil). All group helps he who gets a Bil. Not all group get one. The friend drinks first cup with his friends, then the rest drink and eat fowls provided for feast. They help each other on farm and man who is helped gives beer party. No older man has active role in these groups, one older man named to see that beer and other things shared equitably, but he has no real authority. The boys begin to visit neighbouring villages looking for girls, and help each in work required by fiancee. Make pretty things for fiancées.
Boys 18--23. Work harder. Go to markets to sell things to make money to marry. Make their own personal house and personal farms. Start to attend meetings held by older men.
John
on his own marriage.
He met Theresa
at Kabri. She is sister of John
's family. John
says father's father's mother was related to Theresa
's mother's mother but doesn't know how.
John
started school in 1942. Already knew Theresa
. Had decided to marry her. Met her first in market and talked to her. When he was in school sent his mother to talk to her and her parents. John
had given her mats. Next time he saw her gave her a shilling. Mother bought and gave her some mats. Every time that he met her in market gave her a jug of beer or palm wine, gave about twenty in all. He used to sell corn in market to make money. If Theresa
's father came to the market. J
's father would take him home and give him wine. J
's mother would entertain Theresa
's mother often giving her fowls. After a period of this parents agreed to marriage. MXXX sent to them. J
's sent Theresa
three bracelets and necklaces. No presents returned. If John
went to visit them they would cook him a fowl. When Theresa
becomes bigger, John
send six shilling worth of farthings and some white buttons to Theresa
via his older brother. He was accompanied by many members of his group. Farthings and buttons put on long strings and tied on to chairs {sic}. They then tell Jeremy
, J
's brother that when Theresa
old enough they will call him. They ask Jeremy
to bring, cock, spear and £2. at once. He does this. Takes bundle of firewood from John
to Theresa
s compound. Then Theresa
s parents make medicine called Jillo and Ndurugi for Theresa
, so that she will not get fever or otherwise ill. Theresa
no longer goes to town but stays out in bush. They call Jeremy
and he calls all of Theresa
's brothers so that they may come and lead her to John
's house. Then they all come led by John
younger brother, the older cannot come as they play on the way. Only unmarried brothers can come. Leave Theresa
s at night. Walk all night. Sleep in the day at a brother's house on the way. Next night reach John
's house, John
is asleep. Jeremy
left them and came in and woke John
. John
goes to salute Theresa
s brothers but ignores her. Brothers of Theresa
angry because he was asleep. John
dashed them shillings. 11sh and 5d worth of mat bought for feast by John
for Theresa
s brothers and her . They ate this in his brothers house. His mother brought food. After food came to his house Theresa
went to his younger brothers house. They brought 14 pots of water to wash. Used five wash, threw the rest on his brothers. John
had bought palm oil which they used to rub on themselves. Palm oil cost £1. Also rubbed J
's brothers with oil in play. When play finished they called John
and told him to give his wife a name, if name is good they agree, otherwise don't. Ndegna given which means young woman. All of John
's younger brothers now call him Ndegna. His father, mother and older brothers call her Ta which means my childs wife. They now gave John
some food, that his group had brought to eat. John
now leads her brothers away and Theresa
stays in the compound. He carries one calabash of palm wine to give them on road. They sit and drink wine. They say that they will come soon. Theresa
sent John
's sister Wendy
to find out when they will come and they give date. They come on day promised during day time. He cooks one chicken for them, he and Theresa
eat with them. By this time husband
John
Marriage continued. (Learned about this towards the end of January)
When leaving they promise to bring firewood. They do six days later. John
cooks them a chicken. They call him Kabri but he does not come as proper medicine not made. He hid in bushes and saw his pa in law first. Both cover eyes with their hands, Theresa
's fathers eyes covered also. Eyes must be opened very slowly, Medicine then made, they put some leaves on you neck then he left. He then stays with his wife. He cooks 20 fowls for her, both John
and Theresa
eat them as well as his relatives.
When buy 8 fowls and 2 calabashes of wine, his, J
's, older brother and wife go to Theresa
s mother. John
stayed home. They reach the place in the evening. Theresa
's father calls his brothers and tells them to take a cock and burn it in the field. After this they drink palm wine. After this they make medicine on Theresa
called Chachuwe. They give Theresa
one hen and one cock to bring back. Theresa
and Hilaire
(Richard
's son and John
brother) come back. John
gets meat and gives her the cock to cook for herself. This first time Theresa
cooks in her husbands compound. Mother tells her to grind corn flour. She must fill one big basket. Theresa
at this stage usually grinds only flour his mother does cooking and supples food. Little by little she begins to cook. She is given a small basketful of flour which she cooks for all of J
's kin. This is done first time that she cooks in the compound. John
's brothers return the basket of food that she prepared filled with money salt and meat. This she keeps for herself from now on she cooks for herself and husband.
Vocabulary relating to time.
Wil=month Tuli=night Turiten=midnight Chiaheli=dawn Luguro=evening
Tumen=January approximately. Shili=Feb, Ngu=March, Tul=April, Vurishu=May, Gua=June, Du=July, Obal=Aug., Yu=Sept., Tu=Oct., Buli=Nov. Cur=Dec. These correspondances are only approximate.
Moon is to the North during Ngu. Tumen means hand it, Shili=rest in town or compound, Ngu is period when fields cleared for corn. Gua=tree like palm tree but not the same Du=Food like Okra, Gobal=Termites that make a heap. Yu=Bitter leaf, Tu Bitter leaf shrub, Buli=Iron that is heavy, Cur=rough small calabash
Ngu also means little white fish and a medicine brought from French side which kills witches. Du is when rains fall and all is damp. Moon is South. Vurishua means send out Shoa, which is time when they dance.
Tumen-Harvest and grind guinea-corn. Medicine man must have first fruits. Shili after finished harvesting guinea-corn and before planting corn. Ngu burn off fields. When moon goes to the South fields are ready to be planted
Tul must clear new fields for guinea-corn, corn already planted.
Vulupshoa. Juju comes out and makes the medicine
Gua Plant guinea-corn to the North.
Du When Warwar plants guinea-corn.
Gobal Finish planting guinea-corn and begin to catch termites.
Yu Weeds guinea-corn
Tu Finish weeding
Buli Guinea-corn starts flowering
Cur Guinea-corn almost ready to be harvested.
Colin
is of Edmund
's kin group in Tiket I think.
Colin
does not eat mole nor do the members of his family. Shie=taboo and run away. His mother can eat it. 2 reasons for not eating, mole lives in the ground and makes sound as if it were eating. During Fulani war period two people of his group fled from town during raid. They were lying on a rock and caught a mole. They ran away as they thought Fulani might hear, as they were going away saw Fulani arrive. Would have been caught if not for mole, as it was they ran away, hid and were safe.
Monkey Taboo from Colin
.
A girl married to a young boy who already had a wife. New wife lived with husbands mother not given a house of her own. She was lazy, did not know how to cook. Mother found girl so lazy so she told girl to squeeze juice of sugar cane into soup. One day husband invited people to come and work farm. Told each of his wives to cook and bring food to field. Lazy girl cooked food and fowl the other made fine food and soup, but the lazy girl does not know how to cook well, and the mother was working in the field so could not help her. She tasted other wifes soup and found it very sweet, her own not good. She tried to make hers better putting all sorts of things in including sugar cane juice, but still not sweet. She had seen her mother in law put salt in soup, so she opened calabash and put in some salt, but it was already spoiled and also she put in too much salt. Only certain people are allowed to open one's calabash of salt as it is special. When she had finished with the calabash, she hung it up, but she found that it followed her about. When she left house calabash followed her. She smashed it up and threw it into bush. Again calabash followed her. She smashed it again and threw it in the water. Again it followed her. Other wife had gone into bush to excrete, the lazy wife sifted the nice soup into her calabash and filled the others calabash with excreta. Then she ran. When she came to the farm the salt calabash still following her. The father of the husband saw the calabash held lazy girl. The two were immediately turned into stone. This stone is called Tol Nori and is at Gembu. The rest of the people all turned into monkey and that is why we don't eat monkeys. Before that there were no monkeys. No Mambila eats monkeys that is white small gray monkey. However you can kill them and make drum heads from their skin, and sell meat to Banso and Ndu people. Some old people eat monkey as they are old already, but not all old eat.
Colin
does not eat.
Toad= Takora, most Mambila dont eat
Tadpole=Vi. Colin
says most Mambila don't eat, John
says Colin
and other all eat.
Snake=Kalabaria (a certain kind of snake). Most Mambila don't eat
Leopard=Ngui Most Mambila dont eat
Dog. John
says that most Mambila eat, some don't because of medicines that they have.
Horse-No Mambila eats.
Donkey-No Mambila. eats.
Certain medicines allow one to eat otherwise tabooed foods.
Colin
s family don't eat cobras
European chiefs tasks.
Collect tax, Decide matters concerning Europeans, see about plans for Europeans coming. Stop fighting and stealing.
European chief called Mbon, Native Chief Ngwa. Native chief has a hand in farming matters. Native chief stays in compound or goes to farm, he does not wander around, can appear at dance but only with lots of people. These restrictions apply only to chiefs month.
Of leopard, boa, cobra, cockatoo, guinea fowl, crocodile, bush cow (buffalo) caught, it is brought to the chief where it is cut up. The operator should be the son of the chief's sister (later learned that it is Nyena Nyu). The chief gets chest, intestines, heads, hoofs, and skin. (Skin of leopard sold and money divided between chief and hunters, but this is recent innovation. Was not able to learn how money divided as not yet done in Warwar.) Killer of leopard gets cockatoo feather to wear in his hair, also the killer of an enemy man has the right to wear this feather. The wings, head and feathers of guinea fowl and cockatoo kept by chief. In the case of a cobra the head and skin go to chief.
A certain month, usually about december is called Native Chief's Month. A man committing adultery during this month must pay fine to chief. When chief's month starts the first person to see moon has to make a great noise by crying Chuoo chuoo. He should hold spear, shield and cutlass in his hands, that is he should be dressed as during war times. He must run to chiefs place followed by men carrying shields. The first man to see the moon is given a fowl. Then they pretend to be fighting a war. They celebrate all of next day. The next morning chief put in the house and close up door. A special medicine man holds buffalo tail and hits chief, the chief is then confined to house and compound. Only his family should see him. He is confined until the end of the month which falls on a market day. Then big beer feast held in all of Warwar. Everyone of the hamlets brings to native chief one or more jars of corn beer. His family makes much beer. All from Warwar go to his compound. They all come with spears shields and cutlasses. Much dancing, re-joicing, pretending to go to war. Before the chief comes out of his house the holder of Ngua medicine waves leopard skin. The skin of Mbishin also waved by same man. Wife of chief was also confined. After skins waved, chief's wife comes out carrying a small iron figure representing a man. This is called Nangu. Then chief follows Nangu (John
thinks that story of Nangu is correct). Then a special dance called Ngun is danced. Chief comes out dancing. Everyone present must also dance Ngun. Strangers to the village cannot see chief dance.
The animals which brought to chief are called Mba. The song sung for Ngun includes the statement that today the chief is brought out and also, Oh chief protect us from the dangerous animals.
Chief dances around the compound three times then dancing stops. He re-enters his compound. Others go on dancing and drinking. The chief then comes out of compound looking very fat, and vomits in front of all, all that he has eaten. He has separate jar of corn beer especially for him, and while he drinks all keep silent except that people clap hands. (This part about vomitting was true in the past but no more). A sisters son of chief brings him a cup then throws a drop of corn beer near the right toe of the chief. The chief touches this drop with his right index finger and touches his right toe. Then he drinks out of cup three times. During first cup, people clap slowly during second faster and during third faster still. Now finished. Now everyone drinks, dances and sings.
Next day is chiefs Sunday and more feasting.
If animals that should be brought to chief are not, killer will become ill. He must go and confess to chief who will forgive him, the killer will bring a fowl as gift to chief. When the chief takes the fowl he says "kissum" which means blessing and sickness will go away.
If fighting goes on and chief comes and waves bush cow tail the fighting must cease at once, this is true at any time.
Native chief asked to bless corn and guinea-corn before planting. (This I have not heard from others) According to Colin
chief waves Vurup (Africa Lily) grass over the seeds. These seeds then mixed with the rest of the familys seeds and this insures that they will all grow well.
Chief notifies whole village when he intends to burn his hillside. If he spears an animal on this occasion he is prohibited from having a share of the animal that he spears.
If you want to marry during chiefs month you must ask chief. Bring him a fowl and later give chief corn beer.
When a new native chief is appointed the shoas are asked to kill anyone who will not obey him.
Native chief has chair of his own and also Shoa of his own. If another person should sit on his chair they will become fat and tired. No one can hit another with chief's buffalo tail or they will become fat and tired, that is person hit. When old chief dies new appointee hit with tail.
Chiefs farming time is called Nyendeng. All of Warwar goes to his farm. He makes corn beer and kills fowl for them and they prepare his farms. He plants his guinea-corn before anyone else as well as his corn.
Adultery
= Gwem. Gwem is to fornicate with anyone not your wife.
If this is done in chiefs month man must go to chief with fowl and confess. If woman was married by exchange must give special fowl to her husband who makes SIN medicine. Actually two fowls given one for So and one for SIN medicine. Later give 5 goats and a dog. Dog is killed, all big people of Warwar eat dog. Husband gets five goats. It is on in chiefs month that you give chief a fowl, otherwise do not. If wife commits adultery either husband, wife, or children may get sick. Tarantula tells the cause. If wife is asked she must confess. If adultery committed with non-exhange wife give husband two fowls one for So and one for Sin medicine. If during chiefs month must give him one fowl also.
Incest
. You cant fornicate with any sister. One family at Kabri died out, all but one man and his daughter. They slept together as it was only way to bring children into group. Nothing seems to have happened as a result, they did not suffer anything.
You cannot marry anyone to whom you believe yourself to be related.
No exchange marriage since government made rule prohibiting it.
If incest committed must bring fowls to make medicine, but you will nevertheless be hated by your family as you will bring misfortune.
Colin
talking.
Warwar has agreement with Vokude. These agreements made all over Mambila country. The agreement made with Vokude during wartime. Formerly warred much, Warwar and Vokude. A man from Vokude came to Warwar, came secretly and found a friend that he had here. He took a risk as he might have been killed by Warwar people. The two discussed how peace could be made between two villages. They decided to try and get their respective friends to make peace. They arranged for the big people to meet on the road between the two towns. Calabash of palm wine brought. Filled first cup. A big man from Warwar and one from Vokude cut themselves and put their blood in the cup along with elephant grass, and Ngana and gur. Big women from the two towns also there. The big people drank of the wine, blood and grasses. The plants Ngara and gur wrapped around womens neck. A few days later Vokude people came to Warwar, beat a goat to death, cooked it and ate it. Warwar people did the same in Vokude. These goats eaten only by families of persons who drank blood. This means that these families must never fight. If by any chance fight breaks out and blood drawn, people will get sick unless goat brought and beaten to death. Those families that didnt drink blood can fight safely, but blood brothers should try and stop them from doing so. Blood brothers families cannot intermarry as they are brothers One cannot cut bananas or other trees in each others presence. The two groups of blood brothers planted tree over the shaft of a spear at the time of the agreement, to show that there would be no more war.
Dance
observed January 22.
Started in full swing about midnight and lasted until 8:00 A.M. They say that corn beer gives them power. No European goods in sight except for strings of pennies on waistband of young men and on rattles of girls. Girls and men danced together in a circle. John
says that all good songs come from Gembu. Drums and rattles are instruments.
What I had planned to ask Colin
about.
Kum gong or Yung, which a type of ordeal
Ngubsho - a sort of charm with chickens head.
Festival Kati (at sowing of corn)
Gevur something to do with ripening of maize. John
doesnt know
Kip harvest time by both sexes, Nyoti is special for women. John
says that did not do it this year.
Nyingwan (Harvest thanksgiving when crops gathered. John
doesn't know)
Kundu (burial feast.) Don't do it in Warwar in other places ten days after death.
Some "clans" claim a woman ancestor some don't.
Goat flesh tabooed by some families
Nama is among some groups religious society of elders.
Tsok and Jeng hunting rites.
Ngubshoa put up by person accused of witchcraft as prophylactic charm.
Ian
says:
Yong so called Yung in Warwar. Ngub Shoa is medicine. Kati is Fulani talk. Kassala means very big people in Fulani language. Natali=elders. Makar=old and infirm. Ron
is one of the rain makers in Warwar. If you have people coming to your farm to work you give the rain maker a spear, he goes to bush with it cuts certain type of grass, add native salt, lights fire with grass puts salt on it and tells rain to go away. Ron
learned how to do this from his father. He is paid by being given corn beer.
Frederick
has Yung gong. Ron
can take lightning out of the ground using water and grass.
Colin
says that there are people who can make rain come as well as go away.
Both men and women make corn beer. Men and women keep money separately. Women may sell beer to their husbands. Trade is main source of income. Men make cloth and sell guinea surplus. Women sell baskets and bags and sell surplus guinea-corn.
Colin
says:
Njam=urine
Njam njami=urinate. Penny=Koba Shilling=Shul pound=wul
Karkil is name of Mission area.
Mvre is Warwar in Mambila talk
Colin
says about fenced off area. Must know enough not to talk to women, before boy allowed to go behind fence, he is about ten. Medicine man shows boys secrets at this age Not necessary for boy to be circumcised before going behind fence. Circumcision done about December. Boys newly circumcised must dive into cold river as helps heal wounds. Kimbing cannot be eaten by Warwar people, others eat. Vokude cannot eat either. First person to spear Kimbing, his mother will die or another member of his family. Nothing can be done about it. Mang people eat it.
Chieftainship.
Names of chiefs given by Colin
.
Obidiah
, S. Zielinski
, Theobald
(Colin
s brother), Seamus
, Tom
, Rudolf
, Denis
Seamus
related through a woman to Obidiah
. Obidiah
chosen because his father was real chief. When his father died he was very young so they gave to someone else during interregnum. TXXX know that he is calm and good man so now give to him.
Denis
is first chief. Obidiah
and Rathbone
sons of Denis
. European chiefs work: When Europeans come he brings them eggs, chickens, corn flour and takes care of barracks. Mends bridges and clears road. Collects taxes. Maintains peace. Sees to it that no one cheats another person. Watches out for thieves. Helps collect debts.
He can give strangers land but only his own, has no claim on village land.
Wakili is Assistant chief. Foster
is Wakili, his brother was headman, Kassala chosen by elders, as is Wakili.
Foster
chosen as speaks Fulani, Foster
was helping his father when latter was old. I think that they say Foster
s father was Wakili.
Tax is at present ten shillings.
COLIN
ON CIRCUMCISION
Is done when boy about 10 year old. At about end of December as cold helps heal. Before going to circumcision boy must not eat in the morning. You are taken by a man member of the family. When circumciser is ready men hold your legs so that you cant shake. Foreskin cut by special knife. Special hole dug and skin and blood put in. Leaves of palm tree made in the form of a funnel and used to cover penis. No cloth used at this time. No European salt permitted. Must get first share of food, and cannot share it with anyone. No one can sit on his chair or bed. Cannot eat meat with fat. Mo. and fa. give the boy a fowl when he returns to compound. This is not for medicine but for gladness. For 2 or 3 weeks until wound heal every morning but go to cold water in river. Women must not see your penis. After healing fa. makes little feast with chicken. Once healed must copulate with little girl. If this is not done penis will not be active. Robin
and Ronald
do it in Warwar. When you go to be circumcised paternal relatives must go with you. You are circumcised in village where your fa. was. No payment made to circumciser but boy should give him mice when hunting to eat. During circumcision only the boys and their brothers there. Do 5 or 10 at one time. Others do not see. To show that you are brave you must not cry, otherwise friends say you are a coward and brothers will beat you. Boys to be circumcised together, may come from different hamlets. You cannot visit while wound healing. Feast after healing only for immediate family. You should go out of the village to find girls with whom to copulate and you dont use girls again until you are mature. If you have intercourse with fiancee before she is mature you must give her up.
Between the age of 14 and 18 you choose a girl. She is about 3 or 4 years younger
BLOOD BROTHERHOOD
Only a few families in Vokude have blood brotherhood with some Warwar families. Vokude people not married by Frederick
family as he has blood brotherhood.
PREGNANCY TABOO
When a girl taken to husband she can no longer drink hot water or hot cornbeer. If she does baby will be washed away. When she first becomes pregnant she is given Nga. She feels biting in stomach. Then Chia medicine made so that the breasts give milk. When she is pregnant husband must not permit adultery nor must women misbehave. Husband and wife must continue to copulate until about 2 months before birth. Then must use coitus interruptus otherwise sperm will block eyes, ears, nose, mouth and other orifices of child. When baby born hot water and gruel given to mother. Fa. with first child must not eat cooked food until string off navel. Mother can only eat cassava, groundnuts, raw corn, no cooked food until navel is off. This fasting begins day after birth. Placenta is buried the day fast begins. No relative will farm on this day; if they did it would kill child. No man present at birth. Mo. of girl comes usually after birth, unless there is trouble. The navel falls off after 6 days, until this time mo. and child are confined to house. Fa. must not cut with knife or work hard. Cannot cross a stream or go to water. Day of delivery before placenta is buried Nam Kol man is called; puts spear into roof with medicine leaves, made of Kur Liber to all grasses which are tied together by Nam Kol man. Some of these given to husband and worn under his armpit. Whenever he meets strangers he takes a bit of To leaf and bites it before he spits, carries until navel string falls. When it falls Nam Kol man called. Comes to door of house lays down spear with grass on tip. Scratches door with spear head and asks whether its female or male child. Mo. answers which it is. He goes into house brings house mo. who is carrying child in her hands and basket on her back in which is hoe. Fa is out with cutlass and spear. Medicine man asks wife whether she has seen sun. While going out he calls hawks, tells them there is new baby. Reason for this is so that hawks wont frighten child if hawk cries out they put earth on forehead of baby. They then go along path until gate reached. Medicine man pretends animal is coming and shows fa. how to throw spear. This breaks the taboo on his hunting. Woman told to bring out hoe which she does, and Nam Kol man shows her how to use it. Then a liber plant is cut by the Nam Kol man to protect child against witches. 2 small holes then dug; linked by canal; beer put in top hole and allowed to flow to lower one. Mo. and fa. drink beer in lower one. Some drops put on child forehead. Then liber put into trench and the holes in trench is covered for ever and stamped on. Meaning of this is to protect parents and child against those who have permitted adultery. When meeting such people now conversation is possible. Previously prohibited. Also adulterers can now hold child.
If child is male, then older male child carries it back to house singing. If child female, then girl carries back singing. People in compound answer singing. Boy carries child goes to house door and pulls a bit of grass from roof. This makes the child do active work and good hunter. Then anyone who wants to carry baby must be given Jur leaves at same time to carry.
After a few days mo. led to market by Chuo man when they reach the bush in market place he leaves her around it 3 times. Chuo man must have killed a bush cow or a man. After circling bush 3 times, he bites leaves and tells wife and husband they can now speak to him-self. Husband also has been around bush 3 times with wife with Chuo man. Later Tshuk medicine made. A relative from her family who has Tshuk comes with Guri grass and Tshuk leaves. He lays leaves outside the compound. Big feast going on inside. When he comes he calls for father. He comes with spear, jug of cornbeer and a fowl. This shows he is paying for Tshuk medicine. 2 tiny branches tied at both sides of gate and leaves laid across gate. Medicine man spits beer where he has tied branches. Medicine man then blesses mo. saying that she should deliver male children. Then cornbeer given to Tshuk man by fa. Many of her family come to feast. Bring firewood and palmoil. But fa. pays heavily for this. The day the child is born a fibrous thread tied around mo. and fa. and child necks by medicine man. When unbilical cord falls off mo. and fa. Thread put around child neck.
After Tshuk feast is over a medicine man from husband family and one from wife family have Shoa leaves ready with a chicken. They tie these together with head of chicken. One of them makes a speech. Says if anyone from fa. or mo's family tries to bewitch the child or parents he should be killed by shoas. They then cut the leaves and bury them. Light fire over them and then stamp it out. This means if witch is there he will be buried and fire put on top of him.
IMPORTANT MEDICINE
TSHUK, very important. He is first man to plant guinea-corn. 1st to taste new crop. No one can leave village for 4 days after guinea-corn planted. No stranger can sleep in village, cannot sell food to strangers for 4 days. No food to be taken out of village, no adultery. Tshuk man 1st to cut guinea-corn with knife. If any of these rules broken must give him a fowl. When guinea corn first cut, all people go hunting. Game brought to Tshuk man who distributes. Stomach, head and heart belong to him. He cooks them on stones belonging to Tshuk. Then tells all animals to come to village so that they can be killed. Good girls to come to village to marry. Bad girls should stay away as well as bad animals. European should come calmly. Tshukma inherits this usually this medicine from fa. He is not first to plant corn necessarily. Bartholomew
is 1st Tshuk man of Warwar and plants guinea-corn first. Other important medicine are:
Bel or Jir - Guul - Nga - Ngan - Kurum - Vo - Felip - Garum - Tsimber - Mvir - Ngupsoa - Nan - Kul - Ngonum - Goltabal - Segoli (used when children cry too much, man with medicine gives them water. We saw Frederick
doing it) - Ambugo - After telling bad animals to stay away, Tshuk medicine man says that European should come calmly and with no bad ideas. The horms of animals killed at ritual hunt put in medicine store. Tshuk man is first to store his guinea-corn. After this one stored, he announces that feast must be given to medicine Tshuk in order that crops be blessed. 3 days before feast men go hunting. All game caught is kept until feast day and brought to him. All heads of animals are put in basket and given to girls who are to be married outside of village to eat. Horns are taken off heads filled with beer, and given to Tshuk man to drink. He again asks that good animals come, bad stay away. Good girls come, bad stay away. And European come calmly and no fighting in village. Then they all dance at dance called Tedong.
The following have Tshuk medicine:
Bartholomew
, in Tigul. Adrian
in Ndiel, Clifford
in Ndiel, Cecil
Tiket, Charles
Tiker, Harry
Tscharl, Roland
Ndiel.
BEL or JIR medicine
This is important medicine made in December when finished weeding corn. Series of feasts from Mbamga, Yambap, Vokude and Warwar. Each lasts 10 days. When feast reaches Vokude, medicine man says: feast to take place at Warwar next market day. Young boys gather rafia palm leaves and stalks to repair fence on dance floor. People fry cornbeer, also fry corn to make cornbeer and bring wood. Evening before feast the jujus, Ka, Mvir, and Tsimbir dance outside of field. Women confined to compounds. Then go to special place where they live. They all have separate places. The morninig of feast they come out again and go into man's part of dance floor (Bel)-Bel also means medicine - They given corn beer to drink by Bel man.
Archibald
is Bel man at Ndiel: he pours corn beer into calabash. Special pot before being given to Juju, beer put into it. Only family of Ndiel can drink out of this pot. After Jujus have drunk Bel medicine men and Tshuk medicine man bring guli grass and each one joined together.
The 2 medicine men stand up. Bel man says now we start guinea-corn. It should grow well. When young boys marry they should get good girls. When hunting animals should be caught. Europeans should be good. Tshuk man repeats all this. When he finishes special horn blown. Sounds reminiscent of war are made. Young boys dance inside fence; women outside. Much drumming. Drum was brought in to area by girl before jujus came. Girl is daughter of Bel man, that is not done in Warwar. She cant be married. Dance for 3 days. Much beer drunk. Also much wrestling, most done outside in front of women to show power. Men wear only native cloth as jujus dont like European cloth. Nothing worn about waist. Before feast starts no one should copulate with anyone but his wife. After 4th day jujus go home. The Bel man starts working guinea-corn and Tshuk man follows. Bel man makes special small plot hidden in bush of guinea-corn. Then afterwards Belman shows men how to plant by holding their hands while they work.
GULL MEDICINE
Held in July, like Bel medicine but fenced area only entered by medicine man. Juju for Guul is called shoa. (They are some play jujus who run after people and whipped them 2 or 3 weeks before feast starts. When it comes Soaba will go to the farm and get one cup of corn. He then goes to small place where jujus are. Corn beer is brought, jujus lie on one side with medicine man. Men with no medicine lie on other side and drink beer. Then men blow trumpet and get some kind of mud. They go to medicine house called Gul which is close to where they were sitting. In hut is flat stone under which is hole by looking in hole the medicine man learns when to plant guinea-corn. He tells his by ant eggs which are inside hole. If eggs are hatched they must be quick to plant their guinea-corn. If not hatched they wait small and then start. In hut they hold a trumpet and touch mud with it. Medicine man licks off mud then joins others. Non-medicine man lick off mud. When this is finished Duyker corn {sic} is blown and Shoa comes in. Everyone makes a noise. The men then leave and to to Archibald
compound. He gives people cornbeer. When this is drunk he sings wrestling songs. Then all dance and wrestle. 1st wrestler is Archibald
with young men. Then they leave Archibald
and to to Adrian
's then to other medicine men's houses. When houses visited jujus dance. This goes on until 3 or 4 oclock then jujus taken back to where they live. Young men now wrestle. When following big jujus no one should hit his foot on ground or fall in front of jujus. If so you must give Gul man a fowl. When feast finished all those who fell give fowl. If person has wounded head of juju he must give goat. Juju is something to put on your head, it is a god, it blesses crops. Women have jujus, never seen by men. Shoa is general term for juju. When people who had accidents bring fowl or goat men grind the cornflour. This is unusual as women usually grind.
NAMES OF TOWN IN MAMBILA LANGUAGE (JU NORI)
WARWAR= Mvre; GEMBU= Tunga; VOKUDE= Gamma; MANG = Mang; TITON = Kelkep; KABRI = Ndegup; DOROFE = Djuap;
MEDICINE FOR CLIFFORD
's child; NAM KOL
Clifford
is father; Rhoda
is mother; Ezra
is Nam kol man; Child is a boy but still nameless.
Ezra
draws woman out with grass. Sits both in chair. Gives both water to drink. Clifford
is carrying leaves. Ezra
takes red string. Puts it on Clifford
's neck, takes it off and puts it on wife's neck. Dips finger in small calabash. Lets Clifford
blow on it and then puts on Clifford
's forehead. Does same for wife and then puts substance on baby's forehead. Gives leaf to Clifford
to chew then puts leaf on Clifford
's forehead. Same for wife. Little boy then holds leaf. Rope then made by Ezra
, ties it around bunch of grass, brushes ground with it. Clifford
given chicken feather, then put in bunch of grass. Wife then holds grass. Ezra
talks for a long time. Husband sweeps semicircle with leaves. Ezra
puts water on ground. Pours water on house roof which wife catches and gives baby to drink. Little boy stands between wife and husband and drinks rest of water. Go outside of compound all. Namkil man shows Clifford
how to spear animals, then shows him and wife how to use hoe. Wife is all time holding bunch of leaves. Ezra
digs 2 holes with canal as described by Colin
. A bone of animal put inside. Wife goes around hole twice. Grass put into hole. All but tip covered. Then he taps Clifford
and with spear and taps ground. Cuts tip of grass with hoe and rubs it on forehead and belly of Clifford
and wife. She offers salt. Ezra
refuses first and 2nd offers as too small. 3rd time accepts and gives baby back. Small boy given baby and carries him to compound. Bearer of baby and others given cornbeer. Leaves of grass put on spear by Ezra
. He sets grass on fire. Clifford
holds spear with foot and wife with hands and let grass and leaves burn. Fire put out with water. Leaves untied from spear. And rubbed between palms of Ezra
. Wet leaves are squeezed on head of husband, wife and baby, rubbed well into baby's head. Then rubbed on wife's forehead, temples, breasts, and knees twice by medicine man. Then 3 times on baby. Then twice on wife and once on husband. He is now given baby. Wife and husband sit on stools, grass waved over their heads by Ezra
. Then passes it through each of their left hands. Ezra
talks 1st really solemn moment. One piece of grass given to C
. who ties it on wife's necklace and another piece on baby's necklace. Namkol man gives mouthful of bananas to Clifford
. C
. gives same to wife. Rest given to 3 children who are around. C
. now goes to hit dog...Red string put around neck of baby.
JOHN
DISCUSSES NAM KOL CEREMONY WITH ME
Medicine draws out woman with Guli grass. Gave mother and baby cornbeer to drink so that child will not get fever. C
.then got grass from roof backed towards the bush and threw it away, this to take bad grass away and leave good. Medicine man puts red rope around C
.'s neck. C
. Takes it off, puts it on wife's neck. Later she pulls it down to her waist. (Red rope taken off wife day child born, it is now being replaced)
The substance that Ezra
took from calabash was Carnit oil. This was done because from birth of child to today neither parents nor baby can use this oil. This ritual permits it now to be used. It is used as cosmetic. Leaf given to Clifford
to chew and at same time, Nam Kol man cuts off a bit of his hair, does this for mo. and child also. If not done hair could never be cut. Wife then knocks 2 rocks together. This symbolises grinding flour. C
. Then showed how to sweep with broom. Child given water to drink from roof in order to allow him to drink rainwater. This is imitation of rain. If not done child would get fever if drank rainwater.
It is Guli grass which is put in hole and buried. Medicine man also cuts liber grass with hoe and this touched to forehead, temple and breasts of Clifford
's wife and husband. If fa. or mo. leaves baby for 1st time, they chew liber grass and rub on baby's navel so that child will not worry while they are gone. The act of giving salt to baby is to make sure that baby will fear nothing. Small boy who carries baby sings nice songs when he brings baby in so that when baby grows up he will also sing nicely. Carrier is chosen because he sings well. Weeds that were tied around spear are called "Njum Barinder" and leaves were: "Wayboli" This burnt so that juice comes out. Later rubbed on fa., mo. and baby heads so that small boils wont come out on heads. Grass given to husband who ties it around his waist and later ties on wife's necklace and baby's necklace is done so that if witch comes to steal urine or defecation of child the grass will kill them. Grass is guli grass, same as Jir grass. Bananas given to husband wife and baby because up to now they could not eat them, Clifford
hits dog up until now could not do it. I was impressed by lack of solemnity during ritual except when guli grass waved over their heads. Also by lack of interest of passers by. Only 1 old man stopped for a moment. People there: participant & 3 children only.
Feb 5th - OBSERVED AT FREDERICK
's COMPOUND AND OTHERS: CEREMONY OF BRINGING IN FIRST GUINEA-CORN
Clifford
was talking to me quite calmly, but suddenly left when called. I got the impression that it was very important that he go. A few moments later all of the members of the compound came in led by Frederick
each carrying a basket of guinea-corn. They did not take regular path to compound, but small auxiliary path. Men came first then women. Children not in procession. Moment seemed solemn. Frederick
got up on store house and was handed first baskets of guinea which he poured in. He seemed nervous and told me to go and take Clifford
s picture. Later other men climbed on storehouse and helped him with guinea-corn. Later saw same ceremony at other compounds. This time procession led by small girl about thirteen, she was followed by men and then women. Before entering compound she took hesitant step forward, then step back, this repeated three times. This according to John
is to assure that much guinea-corn comes into compound. Samuel Zielinski
who was with us left, as he said being chief he could not see guinea-corn being brought in to compounds. No elderly man about directing. 2 men later three clambered up to store house to pour it in.
February 6th. Saw and helped Ian
bring in his guinea-corn. All from compound helped. The aim is to bring in as much as possible all at one time and in one rush. We came through bush path. No special ritual or solemnity. Only Ian
sprayed interior of granary with water which Graeme
had tasted. Later he sprayed outside of granary. Before bringing the guinea-corn up to granary one stalk of guinea-corn taken out of each basket and tied in a bundle. After first bunch in storehouse women were sent to fetch the rest with no ceremonial.
DEATH OF BIG MAN
When big man dies people sing songs, these are songs that are sung only at death, and not when small people die.
If wife finds husband dead she cries and all take up wail. If he has lots of clothes, his male kinsmen put these around their waists. Women put basket on their heads. People come to his compound and wail. Wail for all whether big or little. People come from long distances, affinal as well as consanguineal kin. When they come to his compound, they wail irrespective of how much time it has taken them to come. Brothers, daughters and their husband come and wail. Sons are supposed to wail the most. Men bring drums, man, woman and small. Men dance in the town women outside. Cover a portion of the compound so women don't see Jujus. Big people bring jujus. They make medicine with jujus. Hold a juju made of iron, go around hearth three times. Make medicine so that if anyone comes to cry, but also to witch, he will die. Iron jujus handled by one man and a calabash Juju by another. Blows a noise in calabash juju which is said to be juju crying, and carries it around fire three times. Drum is then hit, and begin to sing, they make circles holding hands. One man makes song in centre and others answer. The man who gives song, holds basket handle, and when he is finished gives it to next singer. Anyone can be song leader. If Ndarrup people hear funeral drum beat they come with their jujus. They call out Seachio when they arrive so that others will dance strongly when their jujus arrive. Ndarrup juju goes around fire three times, followed by Warwar jujus. Their Jujus go to store house to cry and are joined by Warwar people and jujus. Again song sung, Ndarup man takes basket handle and gives song. Son of deceased then talks and gives people food to eat. They talk about illness of deceased, and some big man says that deceased children must be taken care of, for if later they go to mother's kin it will be a disgrace, as it shows fathers kin could not take care of them.
When dance stops women can come in. They have heard all of the talk. If women are in when Juju comes they cover their eyes. Big man then says, if God sent illness alright, but if man sent illness he must die. Calabash jujus blown again and jujus knocked on ground. If anyone owes deceased money he must give it to heir and if dead owed money then creditor must announce it then so that he can be paid back. If claim made and it is not legitimate then shoas will kill you, or so medicine is made so that this will occur. Jujus knocked and calabashes blown at this point.
Women leave for ouside compound. Men begin to sing, and continue until sun goes down. Then return to their homes. People who have married deceased's daughters must stay from one to three days. They may go only to get palm wine to bring back. Corn beer made by family and neighbours. Sometimes later corn beer and sons and daughters come to distribute this property. Most goes to sons a bit to daughters. The majority goes to sons who have take care of deceased's junior children.
If man is big man then bury him under guinea-corn store, if not big bury under plantain trees. Cut banana leaves and place on top of grave also stems. Corpse is naked and grXXX before burial. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX or otherwise their children would be troubled with a cough, that is plantains to eat. Big people and friends carry and dig grave.
Ian
February 17.
Tshuck medicine man eats guinea-corn first. Then the big man of each Man cooks and eats, until you get to small boys who eat last. Robert
first of Ian
's family to eat it. Frederick
s wife cooks it second and shares with him, then Ian
, the Vivian Zielinski
, then Clifford
. Nyena Nyu. Graeme
is Nyena Nyu to Ian
. Graeme
s real father was married to a member of Ian
's family long time ago. He went to Gembu and became chief. Graeme
s mother came to Tiker and he later followed her. Nyena Nyu is person related through maternal ties.
Feb 19th. Fence on dance field partly blown in the storm so people today do no farm work, that is men. Women can work.
Ian
Feb. 19th
One is Nyena Nyu to family not to individual. Ian
's mother was from Wakili's family, therefore Ian
Nyena to Wakili but Wakili not Nyena Nyu to him. You can take eggs if you are Nyena Nyu, steal corn beer. Nyena Nyu calls the persons to whom he is Nyena Nyu Talup. You can offer things to Tallup but they should not take it. Asymmetrical joking relationship, you can take corn and guinea-corn from his field, but not he from yours. Louise
a woman was married to Reginald
, the big man of Ian
s family, he is dead but she still alive, and she is first to eat Guinea-corn. Sarkim Barki (Adrian
) first to plant guinea-corn, first also to bring it to compound and to eat it for all of Ndiel. He does so before Louise
, he does this because he practices Tschuk medicine. Clifford
also does Tschuk, but only less important Tschuk. Adrian
give big feast after all have gone hunting for him and brought him lots of meat. He gives big feast then corn is planted.
Rest House. Ndiel, Tiket, Tscharl, Tigul primarily responsible for Rest House. Gembu gives money to keep it in condition.
NYENA NYU
Child of any woman of your family is Nyena Nyu to you. You are Talup to them. You can only steal from Your Talup, if you don't live in same hamlet. Graeme
cannot take much from Ian
as he lives in same hamlet. If pot of corn beer is very full, Nyena Nyu can come to sip from the top. When you build new compound Talup can come and ask for fowl, if no fowl available they give a rat, you cannot give money. If no rat or fowl available give chicken feather, cannot give money as this a European thing. Talup then given corn beer and blow on it that is blow it on the hands of their Nyena Nyu's thereby blessing his friends, fowls, and children. Special part of blessing is to keep rats from guinea-corn.
Nyena Nyu is children of sisters both M. and F. and their children. Cannot marry Nyena Nyu. Nyena Nyu ship dies with sisters childrens children, these no longer Nyena Nyu.
February 20th Bororo Farm Palaver
Complaint of Ian
, Clifford
, Frederick
. Frederick
says that he doesn't want Bororo to come here. He says that cows don't stay up in the hills but come down to river where farms are. Mambila make ditches for irrigation and cows spoil them so that it does not irrigate and more especially drain plots. Cows compress the earth with their weight so that it can only be worked with great difficulty. D.O. Told them not to cut big trees so they plant small ones which cows trample. Darius
according to them told Bororo not to spoil Mambila farms, but they hesitate to tell him when his rule is broken. Some time ago, but this year, a Fulani fined £1 for spoiling some farms. Later he brought back his cows on all of the
farms
as he said that he had bought the lot for £1.
Worst insult. Gul meachi=your mother's head or simply Meachi=which refers to your mother's pudenda
Women and man and woman or two women can drink from one cup. If two men want to show friendship they drink from one cup. Husband and wife don't share cup unless they are alone. You can only drink with your real sister if you are not in your compound. You can do it with classificatory sisters in your own compound. Can do it with friend female, such as your brother's wife anywhere. Not do it with pa or ma unless you pay them for right. Cannot do it with mother or father of wife under any condition, payment does not allow. Older sisters of wife you must pay, younger sisters need not pay can do. Older brother of wife you pay, younger brothers you don't have to pay to do it. For older sisters and brothers of wife you pay only once and from then on can do it always, for fa and mo. you pay each time. Its rare to do it with pa or ma, but common with others.
Order of Precedence in Drinking corn beer.
If someone gives you pot of beer, you give it to someone to divide. If you buy it you give to biggest man or to man you like. First cup to biggest man, the second to anyone you like. Frederick
gets first cup if Rathbone
, Obidiah
, Adrian
and Gregory
there. If woman oldest present you give it to her. If all Kassala's there you give to the one you like best. Biggest man gets second cup immediately after everyone else served.
MENSTRUATION
Gine=menstrual blood. Metolgia=I see menstrual blood.
You should not have intercourse when you see blood, but some men do. If this is done then woman will bleed a great deal. When woman begins to menstruate she goes into the bush and puts grass stopper into her vagina. Girls taught when young to expect menstruations and to know what to do. In Mang menstruating women cannot cook food, she can grind and put on fire to boil the fufu but can not add finishing touches. John
does not know whether this is true in Warwar or not. In Mang she can sow guinea-corn, but not cover it with foot, others must do that.
WIFE INHERITANCE
Brothers try to marry deceased brother's wife, but father of dead cannot. Either older or younger brothers can. If wife does not like brothers she goes back to her own family. and finds new husband. Now in these cases they may pay back bridewealth, but in past didn't. Vulkuni=marriage by exchange. Vulmbe=marriage by bridewealth.
Vulumbe you used to give 7 hoes, in this type of marriage girl could be taken to be used for exchange. If wife decides to leave, some say no that all bridewealth must be returned and children will stay with father. If husband tells wife to leave her family need not give back the bridewealth. If wife commits adultery she is immediately sent away and bridewealth returned. Wife would not run away if she caught husband in adultery.
If widow married deceased husband's brother only a few small presents given. You cannot marry your father's wives under any condition. You can marry your father's brothers wife. You cannot marry your grandfathers wives.
Teknonomy
Can't call father or grandfather by real name. Only use big man's name to relatives that are younger than you.
Religion
Give food to God, your ancestors by throwing a bit of food on the ground at each meal. One informant says that it is only obligatory when new corn or guinea-corn eaten, otherwise voluntary. Also often throw first few drops of corn beer on group for ancestors. When corn beer made some put away in broken calabash for ancestors, and no one can drink it. Tschang is God. Food and beer is given to both male and female ancestors. Ian
says that Mambila God is their ancestors.
Rathbone
father is buried under a rock. If a hole opens up on the earth over his grave, rain will not fall, so they Nyena Nyu to pour calabash of water over grave and hole and with ensuing mud, close hole so that rain will fall. The same is done for Adrian
's father who had same medicine, it is because he is of the family of native chief. The day hole is stopped up no one can work on farms.
There is a folk tale of men trapped in a mountain. When rain does not fall, man goes to mountain puts oil on the rocks and some white chicken feathers. Jay
from Tiker and Corin
from Tscharl do this. Mountain is called Tirmadja.
If your father's brother takes care of you when your father dies then you call him
father
but only then. Person that you call Nyena Nyu call you father.
When twins
born.
Many people cut down bananas and bring to father's house. Break down bananas with hand not with normal knife. Go to mother's village and steal bananas, plantains guinea-corn, which brought to father. No one can work. Much corn beer when umbilical cord about to fall of, this prepared by father's family. Felip man (Twin medicine man - Roland
has it) Twins are made to eat Felip medicine made by medicine man. Ropes tied around feet, hands and waist. Fowls given to medicine man. Big feast. New name given to father and mother.They call father Wan and mother Moan. If children are girls they call them Qua and Vurrike. If boys Bini and Quari. The one who born first called Be and the other Dim by their twin.
Some people say to have twins is a bad thing. Once a month a fowl must be cooked for them. If you have a large kin group, they help you with fowls. Roland
's father bought twin medicine from Edmund
at Kabri. You buy this medicine from your father. Same horn is worn around the neck as for Nam Kol, Tu, Tschuk, Bell, and Gul. Some men weat Titolup (grass) around the neck Guri and Kikong medicine also worn around neck. In Tiket Johnson
is biggest medicine man. In Ndiel Archibald
is biggest medicine man, he gave some medicines to Adrian
so that he would help him.
Gregory
stops fights in Ndiel, he is able to do this because he has Nya medicine. Sasswood ordeal is called Li. Ian
doesn't want to give me name of man with medicine. If chief dies a Nyena Nyu is caretaker until new chief chosen.
Obidiah
was first chief-Native chief not European chief.
Denis
both European and Native chief after Obidiah
died.
He bore Obidiah
and Rathbone
. He got sick.
Tim
made European chief because he was Mindils brother, but doesn't know whether sibling of Rudolf
.
Stuart
was Li man for Mbamga. Jan
was Li man at Warwar but he died. Samuel Zielinski
and John
claim that there is now none in Warwar (Ian
has previously told me that there is)
NGWA = Native Chief. MBON = European Chief.
Flint
was first Native Chief according to Mallam Taffi.
Obidiah
first Ngwa, not Mbon.
Rudolf
Mbon not Ngwa
Rathbone
second Ngwa not Mbon, he is Obidiah
s real son, don't know whether is is oldest son or not
Denis
became NGWA. Rathbone
bore Denis
.
Rudolf
died and Tim
became Mbon, same mother and father as Rudolf
. Tim
was old man when Denis
became Ngwa and so he made Denis
help him as Ngwa. Then Denis
died. Denis
's brother told Tim
to take back the Mbon and so Tom
was now Mbon and Ngwa. (There is some doubt about this bit, as paragraph crossed out in notes). When Rathbone
dies Denis
became Ngwa.
When Rudolf
died Tim
became Mbon. Tim
and Rudolf
's fathers had same mother and father.
Tim
was so old that he told Denis
to take Mbon and join it with Ngwa. Denis
died when Tim
still alive. The big people told Tim
to take back Mbon, no one was Ngwa. Tim
dies. Johnson
(Rudolf
s real son) told to take Mbon. Johnson
limps and hence refused to take it as much walking required. He, Johnson
, made Conlan
(not a relative) as he had no child of his own, Mbon. Conlan
died and they told Johnson
to take back Mbonship; He said that he could not go to meetings, he therefore gave it to Theobald
(Rolf
's father) who was no relative.
Theobald
died again Johnson
told to take back Mbonship. He refused and gave it to Samuel Zielinski
who was his Nyena Nyu. Crops were not growing well so they told Rathbone
to become Ngwa. Rathbone
was real son of Denis
. He is now Ngwa. Obidiah
not yet Mbon as he has not yet been given a gown.
The big people decide who is to be Mbon. They call him and tell him. He can refuse. Samuel Zielinski
given Mbon's robes at Gembu by the D.O. Complaints for his removal made to D.O., and District Head.
Johnson
and Samuel Zielinski
s mother were real siblings. Zielinski
considered by some Warwar residents as being Warwar man even if his father was from Tep. as his mother stolen and sold as a slave.
Job of Mbon. Take care of R.H. Take care of bridge. Clear roads. Get labourers and carriers and bring food to D.H. or visiting Europeans. Go to meeting in Gembu when called. Tries to stop fights. Paid five shillings a month. If they're caught is now taken to prison, previously flogged or sold as slave. Your family can kick you out of Warwar and could also in the past if you ignore wishes of big people.
When Mbon gone Wakili does his work. He acts as messenger. Foster
Wakili for S. Zielinski
. Usually Wakili and chief live same hamlet and are neighbours for convenience sake.
Elders decide who is to be Wakili.
Nya is the name of a medicine. Gregory
has it. Russell
was Tim
's father. Russell
died and they made Tim
chief or Nya. If leopards or cockatoos caught they were brought to Nya man, also bats, owls, bush cow brought to Nya. He takes, feet, chest, heart and head. Divides rest among all Warwar people. If Ndiel people catch animal they bring to Gregory
and not to Rathbone
.
BOOK 2
March 4, 1953. Land Tenure by John
.
Children of a man get his farms. Both sexes inherit land. If daughters young they share equally with brothers. If daughters married marries away, the sons get and keep all. If your sister marries in the town her husband may ask you for land and you must give it to him, but if you don't have enough then you may refuse.
If you need more land you ask first fathers family for some. All land belongs to someone. You can ask anyone for land though in preference you ask your own kin. One can go and live with mother's family if they have enough farms. Many people go to live with mother's family. If you leave Warwar you let others use your farms if they wish. If you return later you get them back. If person uses your farm they may give you a basket of guinea-corn or corn, but this is gift, not rent.
If a stranger comes and is your friend, you would give him a farm or two, if you don't have enough, then you ask others to supply your friend. You would ask Kassalas and other big men. If the people in your hamlet don't have enough to give one to friend you ask people from other hamlets. If stranger later leaves, farms go back to original owner. If a person has given stranger a farm, and later needs it back, he does not ask stranger, but asks sponsor of stranger for its return. According to John
a stranger never really owns land, nor do his children. Stranger can lend his land, but only after consulting sponsor. Sufficient farm lands for everyone in Warwar, no land hunger. Strangers are not allowed to buy land. People used to sell land to Warwar inhabitants but no more.
Mountains that surround Warwar and used for hunting cannot be sold. Roland
who owns a part would not be allowed by big men of Ndiel to sell it. If Roland
says that they cannot burn grass to hunt on it, people wont. If father leaves me land I say Hi Burrama, the same term used if someone lends me farm.
March 5, 1953. Ian
on Land Tenure.
The first people who came to Warwar divided up all of the land among themselves. They had meeting and set a certain day on which people would mark out their farms. If one or more of my brothers had not yet come to Warwar. I might go and cut farms for them.
If man had too many farms he might sell them, the seller might ask a goat for a big farm. Or might ask a slave for same sized farm. For small farms you would give a fowl. Sons can inherit farms from mother. Only sons inherit, though sons often lend farms to sisters. If you don't have enough you can ask anyone to give you farms. Person may sell you one, lend it for a specified number of years. Person who borrows farms gives lender a fowl called Tschor Hallemi. He gives fowl for 2 to four years use of farm. For loan of one year you give nothing.
Mela ma nea gulli = I'll sell you farm
(itschi bli = Work it for nothing (I won't sell))
If you want to sell you show buyer farm. Price decided. Goat or other thing given. Owner takes Guli grass, the buyer gives added chicken Tschor Gulli Owner spits on Gulli and blesses it, new owner takes the grass and plants it on his land.
If Ian
needed goat or money he would first ask Frederick
to help him. If Frederick
would not he could then sell a farm, even if Frederick
did not want him to. Sales nowadays are few. Ian
bought one some time ago from Brooke
, he gave two hoes and two shillings. 2 shillings was for Gulli grass as Ian
had no fowls. Brooke
cannot ask for it back. Sometimes farms lent for indefinite period. Women cannot own farms.
Ian
says if stranger comes and his friend can only lend him small farm, the stranger can go directly to others to ask for loan, need not act through intermediary.
No one can take your farm away. If you leave the town you let your brothers work on your farms. Nowadays strangers have to ask Obidiah
and Rathbone
for permission to stay, this is done through Kassalas, but this is a new government regulation.
If stranger comes to settle in Ndiel he may ask people from other hamlets to lend him land. Some people have more farms than others, Frederick
s family has the most in Ndiel. Frederick
s family first in Ndiel
If my daughter has children and comes back with them to Warwar I should give them farms to work. When a man is about to die, he should say publicly what farms he owns so that his children will know.
When Ian
bought his farm only he and seller were present, both participants then went to big people and told them about sale.
Any person can fish in the stream. Lakes belong to individuals. Pearson
of Tiker owns a lake. Owner announces day that it will be fished and divided total catch. He gets a share as the owner.
Names of Areas of Ndiel.
Yetter Tebi = hill part of Ndiel
Yetter Tebi = hill part of Ndiel
Gila Lutaba = where Frederick
lives
Kitter tab leba = where Adrian
lives
Barki where Ian
lives. This because site of ancient R.H.
Theo
was the Kassala before Frederick
. Theo
was Adrian
's "brother" Doesn't know who preceeded him. Special meeting held to decide who is to be Kassala, women not asked their views.
The big men of Ndiel.
Frederick
. Is big because is oldest and is Kassala.
Adrian
. Has Tshuk and is old.
Archibald
. Is big because has Bel medicine for repairing dance floor fence and is old.
Cadogan
. Because is old.
Dyson
because is old.
Gregory
not because is old but because has Nya medicine. Got it from father Cosmo
.
Roland
is big man because has Felip medicine.
Adrian
s Tschuk medicine is for hunting. Clifford
s is for new born children sometimes called Tshuk Nga.
If I have medicine I would or might teach it to all of my sons but only one can practice it. Little horns around neck used for Tschuk and Tu.
The three stones are called Keltera (man stone), Kelme (woman stone) Kelbol (stone for corneX) {corner??}
Frederick
s wife has Lobal medicine used Ngiri grass and this can be used to stop argument.
Rathbone
has Ngua medicien.
March 6, John
Some women own farms. If father has no sons daughters can inherit. If girl marries away, she shows that farm to someone in the family and he works at it. If crop is a good one, he may send a basket or two to women. If girl returns she can reclaim farm. Woman leaves her farms to her sons.
Crops.
Only women work round small yams.
If farm has not been worked for awhile, you must first cut the grass, native hoes used. Men and women both do this, children help. If you can make beer bring three or four jugs to farm and ask others for help. You go the previous evening and ask others to come and help. You can ask people from other towns and hamlets. If someone asks you and your don't want to help, you say "I shall see tomorrow." John
says even lazy people come as they don't have to work hard and can drink beer. Some come about 9:00, others 9:30 and lazy ones about 10:00. Those coming at noon are said to be slouchers. Work until sun goes down or work finished. Usually for one day only. Unless you are very good friend you don't go unless asked. After work owner of farm gives beer and sometimes dancing. If you see people working and drinking beer you can join them in drinking beer without working. Old men may come to work, but the owner should not let them.
When grass is cut it is spread over the field and left to dry so that can be burned. When it looks as if rain is going to come, you burn your grass. You can burn your grass whenever you wish to, need consult no one. Man wife and children to burn grass. No medicine made. After this wait for rains. Rains come. Ridges are made when earth damp as easier. Often make corn beer so that people come to help you make ridges. Men women and children do this work. Women usually plant corn, but men may help. Usually only women and girls do planting. Meanwhile men making ridges on other farms. Women make little hole with their fingers, put five or six seeds in. Holes spaced about 2 feet. apart. Seeds planted on top of the ridges. In between corn they plant Argusi (a kind of pumpkin) Also plant okra usually all all on same day, but may do so other days. All planted on the ridge. You plant you yams the day of first weeding. About a month after planting you weed. Men women and children weed. It is done with hoe and hands. On ridges you use only your hands or corn shoots might be destroyed. Again you can make beer and have others come to help, but usually this done by owners family.
After this ridges are broadened so that the guinea-corn soon to be planted will grow well. Men women and children do this. If not all of the field was planted in corn, the rest is now cleared of grass for planting guinea-corn.
When guinea-corn about to be planted medicine made. All make beer. On market day Jujus come out. They all go to Tiker to "gir" behind the fence. Some of the Jujus goto farms and steal corn and bring it to gir. This corn given to Johnson
(Nor Giri) Archibald
is the Ndiel for Giri. Corn is roasted on fire by Johnson
. Johnson
eats first ear and gives rest to whom he wishes. Then they talk about when guinea-corn should be planted. The big men discuss this in concert. They decide on a certain day. Bell (called Yung) is rung. Johnson
hits Yung and says if witch comes to spoil guinea-corn Juju will kill them. Jujus given corn beer to drink. A man takes Gulli grass and gives a bit to all of the men. Each one takes his to safe place to keep until about to plant guinea-corn, when it is planted in the field to insure that crop will grow well. Jujus dance after distribution of Gulli grass. Johnson
sings a song, some of the medicine men wrestle, then they come out from behind fence with Jujus. Women must stay inside their houses when Jujus about. Jujus goes to Foster
s place. They dance there. Johnson
comes and sings wrestling song and wrestles, medicine men alone wrestle with him. Afterwards mass wrestling. Foster
provides beer. Then return to Johnson
s compound. Sing and wrestle there, then go to dance field at Tiker. Jujus return to their hamlets. Young men wrestle. 2 days of wrestling. Jujus can come and play on these days, sometimes lasts 3 or 4 days. On the third day Jujus go to beg things from women. Next day they cook all that has been obtained. This is the sign the Jujus will no longer play. Complete rest enforced on the next day. After this they plant guinea-corn, Johnson
has made the medicine for it. Corn can be brought home at any time as soon as is ripe. May make beer to get people to help. People who married your daughters and sisters come to help you if you ask them and make beer. >From the first basket of corn you take a few ears and give them to the big man of your family. He takes two and spits on them and hands them back saying "Kissum Wo kikom, woo woo, Wo ki Yalipachi boni momua." Which means "Blessings, You work corn to grow more and more, if you work your crops they will not spoil but grow better and better". He takes the rest of the small basket of corn. You take the two ears that he has blessed and hang them up in your house or granary. You will use them to plant next year. You give big man his due before you bring more than one basket to your house. The women may bring first basket in and give it to big man of family. In this case it must be wife. She goes alone. The rest of the crop is brought by men, women and children. Hang it up in store house or residence if not enough space in store house. Let it dry before storing permanently.
Distribution of Crops
Husband divides fields and gives some to wife and children. First the family works the wifes field, then husbands, then childrens. Crops kept separately. Man sell part of his crop to get tax money. Either he or his children take it to market. Wife has most. She can sell some to buy cloth, salt and oil. She also keeps some money to help sons and other male relatives with brideprice. Her stock supplies most of family's food. If her stock is finished she will ask husband for some and also from her children. If she sells too much and there is hungry period in the family John
insists that husband will not be angry.
The sons and daughter keep some of their crop to give to mother to cook for family. Also may give some to fiancee. Fiancee will not give any to her future spouse. A son takes most of his to market to get money to buy gifts for fiancee and jewelry for himself. John
says that usual amount obtained at market is about £3. Girls sell a part of their crop to buy necklaces and other jewelry. Girls never give their boyfriends money. Wife keeps most for seed, husband may also give some if asked.
Marital history.
Penny
married to Henry
. Not married before
Daisy
left Henry
to marry some one at Yambap.
Muriel
, born Ndiel. Was married at Titon left her husband and came to marry Henry
Katherine
-from Kara - She was married to Erskin
's younger brother. He died and she married Henry
Pat
- from Ndarrup not married before.
Guinea-corn--Yil
When Jujus have gone, people with Tschuk are first to plant. Tschuk people join together at Tiker and decide day to plant. Anyone can come to meeting. Tschuk people plant very small plot. Adrian
at Ndiel and Cecil
in Tiker do this. No one can be with them or see them planting. Is done early in the morning. From the day the guinea-corn planted by Tschuk men to day leaves sprout, no one can sleep outside of the town. No one from outside can come and sleep here. Usually takes five of six days for leafs to sprout. No one can plant guinea-corn until leaves come, this includes Tschuk people. Tschuk man goes and looks every day, no one else can go. Small plot about 2 feet square. When he sees leaves he announces it to people. Now one can sleep anywhere and strangers may come. If during forbidden period you sleep outside or stranger comes he gives fowl or cash with the feathers of a fowl to Tshuk man. Theoretically cash should be enough to buy chicken. You can't sleep with a woman not your wife during this period. Unless you have slept with her before.
When leaves sprouted, Tschuk man plants his guinea-corn then others follow. If guinea-corn leaves appear in all but one hamlet they try to find out why it did not there. Tarrantulas are used for this, that is trying to find out who has sinned. Sinner must bring fowl to Tschuk man. Tschuk man makes another fine field and waits for leaves to come out. It is only after all of the fields have sprouted leaves that guinea-corn can be planted, Tschuk men from all hamlets come together and decide on date to plant. They plant their farms first. Anyone may help them. Next day others start to plant. Guinea-corn planted on ridges where corn grew. This is done after weeds turned over. Trees are planted on same day at same time. Guinea-corn seeds are sown by throwing, usually men do it, but women and girls can do it too. Women cover the seeds that man has thrown. Before planting your guinea-corn, you must confess if you are vexed with your mother, father, brothers, sisters, or children and anyone outside of your kin group. Then you must say that you are willing to forget your grievance. So saying you cut Yiu grass. People to whom one confesses are chosen by diviner. No payment made. Almost all people have medicine to act as father confessor, even John
has it. Medicine made for sons, wife and daughters, and is made before planting.
Often farm is protected by slicing a gourd and planting Nzim grass and while so doing, saying if someone comes to spoil my farm may Jujus get him. With the Nzim grass grass is planted Guli, Pupo and Wulnami grasses. Only a man can do this. You do it the day you first plant guinea-corn, and only for first farm that you plant. Wife has to cook fufu for family that day or guinea-corn wont come out well.
First weeding when guinea-corn about one foot high. When guinea-corn begins to come out, Tschuk man is first person to clear space and sometimes build platform from which birds are frightened. Woman with Lobal medicine is first to light fire on cleared space. Then anyone can clear space and light fire.
Tschuk men first to cut guinea-corn. At first is left in the field then brought to flat place to dry out. Tarrantula (Ngam) is asked who must take guinea-corn to flat space. Sometimes it is the Tschuk man sometimes a boy or girl, but never wife. The day after Tschuk man has finished then others can start. Tschuk man is first to carry guinea-corn to his house. John
says then anyone can do it, but many people do it in order of seniority within the kin group. Young men carrying hesitate before entering compound taking 3 steps forward and backward three times, then throw guinea-corn into store house. Before guinea-corn put in granary water spewed from mouth into it.
About at the age of twenty a boy gets own store house to get money and make Kurum. Wife gets more guinea-corn than husband, and have separate store houses. Husband and wife use part of their stock to eat and each has the right to sell his own and keep money. Son gives some for family food and part of money that he gets from selling he gives to father to help with tax.
Corn is eaten more than guinea-corn and is preferred as food.
Kurum is beer party given for farm work or other. Guinea-corn beer is better than corn beer. Guinea-corn is man, corn is woman because they make much medicine for guinea-corn and little for corn. Also corn grows quickly like women and guinea-corn softly softly like men. Corn stays inside leaf (house) while guinea-corn comes out and does not hide itself.
MARKET
Its bad to work farm on market day. If corn is grown up and people worked on that day, wind would come and blow it all down. It is work with hoe that cant be done on market day. Cutlass can be used as long as it is not on farms. No work with hoe at any place on market.day. Market is old institution, it is on market day that Jujus come out and go behind fence
Anyone can go and sell in market, but more women do than men. Anything can be sold in Market. Palm oil, salt, meat are main foods women buy here. Buy both European and native salt.
March 13th,
Some women collecting coco yams and pods for seed on trees on farms. Men did no farm work today.
March 13th. Market day. Prices
Coco yams - (Koli) about 3/4 of a lb. 20 small ones 1/2d.
Coco Yams 1/2d for a big one about 3/4 of a lb.
Nuts (Ngui) 1d for a stick of about 15 nuts. Stick is 8 inches long.
Corn. 3 shillings for a heaped pan. This is corn off of the cob.
Plantains 1d for four to six large one.
Bananas 4 for 1/2d.
Yams 3 small one for 1/2d.
Cassava - KuKu) 1/2 for 3 medium sized ones.
Groundnuts (Sanghar) on pan full 4d.
Cornflour one small pan 5d heaped.
Salt 3d for 1/2 cigarette tin.
Palm oil 6d for 3/4 cigarette tin.
Corn Beer Case of Rolf
s wife March 11, 1953.
Sarkim Barki's younger "brother" Howie
saw Rolf
's wife grinding guinea-corn. He asked her whether it was to sell for beer and she said yes. (She was joking or so she says.) The boy immediately went to Adrian
and told him. Adrian
went to Rolf
's wife and told her that she shouldn't make guinea-corn beer to sell without medicines having been made. When woman learned that Adrian
was angry, she called Howie
and criticised him for telling Adrian
. She said that he would have to drink water from Yung bell and if he didn't want to she would take him to Gembu court. The bell drinking was because Howie
said that he had not told Adrian
. She said that he was the only one to know. Rolf
insisted that Howie
drink the bell as he had "made lie to womans head". John
told Rolf
not to insist as Howie
was small boy and didn't have sense. Rolf
agreed and said that he would not insist but if Howie
continued to lie, he would then insist on bell or Gembu. Argument stopped.
Argument was because Adrian
has to make special medicine (Tschuk) before guinea-corn can be sold. Tschuk man's wife cooks guinea-corn into fufu day that it is cut and also makes small quantity into beer before anyone else can do this.
For corn there is no hamlet wide medicine, only the father of the family feeds it to his wife and children by hand the first day new crop eaten. First corn and guinea-corn cooked in a basket, not pan as the latter is European thing and if the pan were used corn or guinea-corn would run away. Also first of new crop of corn or guinea-corn made into beer must be drunk in calabash not European glasses or tins.
YUNG BELL CULT FROM JOHN
Johnson
has it for Tiket, John
does not know who has it in Ndiel, Tigul and Tscharl but he does know that at least one man in each hamlet has it. Some Yung bells are male and some female. The loud voiced ones are female and the small voiced ones are male. Man and women gongs tied together. If disease comes to another village or hamlet, the Yung man beats his bell and says that if any witch tries to bring sickness to his village or hamlet, the bell will kill him. If something stolen the Yung bell is hit and medicine man says if stolen thing not returned the Yung bell will catch thief and kill him. If bell rung and goods returned the culprit must give a fowl to medicine man and he rings bell so that it will not catch thief. The second ringing also protects culprits against witchcraft. Before bell rung people asked to return stolen article, and only if it is not returned will bell be rung. Men can watch bell being rung, but women cannot.
If you have told a lie and drink water from bell it will kill you in a short time. You will get bloated and then die. John
has seen them ring bell many times, also seen lots of people drink water from bell, has also seen stolen good returned and bell rung a second time to protect thief. Also knows that people have died from lying to bell or not returning stolen goods.
Songs sung about thiefs who confess.
Witches die when bell is rung. They either get fat and die or the back of their necks and small of their backs hurt and they die. (Probably cerebro-spinal meningitis)
Bells come from French side and Titon.
Witches.
A witch can always recognise other witches. They are made witches by drinking a special medicine. Both sexes may be witches, but women are worse than men, since they kill you at once. Men witches take longer about it and hence there is a chance to escape them. Witches use witchcraft to get meat. Usually bewitch at night but can also work in day time. Come in invisible form, you can bewitch anyone you like in your family. (There is some doubt as to whether one can bewitch non-relatives)
If I and John
are both witches, I call him to help me bewitch a memberof his family, then later I have to help him with a member of mine.If someone accused of being witch he is made to drink Yung. Tarantula tells you who is witching you. Stick cutting sometimes used as a preliminary.
Baskets.
Men don't make them. Women do and give or sell to men. Men put on straps that is used to carry baskets on the shoulder. Sa=big basket used to carry corn. Mbol=little one used for corn flour. SaMal big basket carried on back. Kwala big basket used to cook corn beer. Same word used for small beer baskets in which beer served. Men make these baskets, that is both types.
Pots
Tung is the name of jug in which beer is served. Both men and women can make them. Clay is placed on rock, mixed with water and beaten with sticks. Both sexes may do this. Then rub between hands to make it into long strips. Make small hole in ground, bank it with leaves. Put strips of clay around the hole. Rub strips with broken calabash and bamboo too make look well. Make more strips. Bottom of pot not covered. Finish neck and lips while pot bottomless. Put in sun to dry. When dry put in bottom. Leave in sun long time to dry. When fully dried they tie to ceiling of house for further drying. Then much wood collected. Big hole dug. Pots put in hole, grass put on top of hole. Wood put on grass. Fire lighted and goes on all night. Pots removed from fire in morning. Only some people make own pots, others buy them. They make medicine while making pots, from camwood and Soa {sic} grass. They say of man spoils jugs may the Juju catch him. Only man can make this medicine. Jugs only made at dry season time. When they make pots don't touch eggs or dogs fecal matter. Small pots cost 1sh and 6d. big ones from 2 to 4sh.
Mats.
Bel=mats.
Bel Yiri = mats to eat on. Women eat from bel yiri, while men eat from calabashes, bowls or baskets. Men and boys only make bel yiri. Only men make mats of all sorts. Pam = sleeping mat.
Cloth.
Loin cloth = Tchek
Buy cotton from French side or plant it oneself. Cotton = Mvele 1/2
Cotton removed from plant, seeds removed from pods. Clean cotton. Pulled into long strips. Strips wound around stick about six inches long. A round fruit = Ferr put on the stick then a strip spun on the small stick, made into thread.
For loom. 4 sticks cut, 2 sticks at one end and 2 at other. Length between sticks, determined by length of cloth wanted.
Two small sticks are tied across stick tied at each end. Then thread tied from end to other, then tie sticks across narrow way. Shuttle of bamboo used. Man alone weave Cloth died by red ochre and oil (palm or castor). Oil first rubbed in cloth then camwood. Dyeing usually done by women but may be done men. Rubbing of oils and camwood done by hand. Camwood also used on women at time of marriage, and on corpses. Bir = camwood. Loin cloth costs about one shilling a strip and about for strips are required. Bought undyed. Purchaser dyes himself. Camwood to dye costs about one shilling and palm oil 9d.
IN ARCHIBALD
S COMPOUND
Jed
he sleeps with Archibald
, who is the father of his mother. His mother married at Mverrup. His father is Mallam Taffi. His mother left Mallam Taffi, her name is Vanessa
.
Clarence
. Sleeps with Archibald
. His mother at Tiker, she is married to Neil
. His father sleeps at Clay
's compound, his name is Thor
. Thor
is Archibald
s son.
Roy
. 3 years old. His mother sleeps here. Her name is Valerie
, Thor
is his father.
Myrtle
. She sleeps at Archibald
s compound. She is Archibald
s daughter, that is Thor
s daughter.
Valerie
is her mother. 1/2 years old. Valerie
sleeps in Archibald
s compound.
If your brother has no children you may give him child to help on farm, in which case brother would help with bridewealth.
Elias
. Suzette
is mother - She sleeps at Kabri. Terence
is father he is from Kabri. Terence
and Suzette
no longer married. He lives with Frederick
. Suzette
is Frederick
s's sister but Elias
does not know whether real sister or not.
Rolf
- Tina
his mother (Kutin) Ted
is his father, born Ndiel. Conal
Rolf
's real brother died and buried in Ndiel.
Roland
full sibling of Rolf
. Carmel
his fill sibling sister lives in Mverrup.
Robbins
full sibling lives Ndiel. Vincent
his full sibling died Ndiel nine years ago
Toni
full sibling died in Tigul.
Rolf
s wife is Emma
. She is Bute. Her father's name was Garfield
and her mother Zoe
. Both dead. He gave £2.
Nyap is brother as Rolf
's father married Nyap's mother when he was pikin in arms.
Cynthia
was Rolf
's previous wife. She born in Warwar, but now lives Dorofe, this was his only Mambila wife, she left him 4 years ago. When she conceived she drank hot water and so lost child and Rolf
sent her away. Had paid £2 bridewealth.
Archibald
s father and Rolf
s father fathers born by same person. Archibald
s father was called Thor
. Rolf
's father called Tony
. Thor
in Archie
's compound is Rolf
's brother.
Father of Adrian
and father of Rolf
born by same man. Adrian
s father was Jimmie
.
Rolf
s family can marry Frederick
s family.
Stephen
and Rolf
s father had one father and mother, he was older brother of Rolf
's pa.
Troy
from Ndiel he and Rolf
s father have one father and mother.
Franklin
had same father and mother as Rolf
's father. He is in Yola. I big man in office at Yola. Will come shortly.
Colin
. Rolf
's fathers mother came from Colin
's family. Hend Audu is brother.
When Rolf
's father died he left him lots of farms. Rolf
gave them to his brothers to work for him, he gets some of proceeds. He can take them back any time that he wishes. At one time he had 4 wives. He had Zsuzsanna
a Kaka woman he married her in Mayo Daga for £4. Virginia
from Kabri she was Mambila. She talked too much so he drove her away, She is now in Dorofe.Gave £2 never got any back.
Virginia
another woman came from Tibati near Banyo. She talked too much and wouldnt feed his brothers. Paid £1.10sh never got any back.
Miriam
from Banyo. She would not work and wouldn't cook so he sent her away. She lives in Gembu married to Hausa man. Paid £2.10sh got some back
Sylvia
. Banyo (Tikari woman) She is prisoner at Bamenda. Some man drank something at her house and died so they arrested her. She wanted to go to Banyo and Rolf
said no so she left .
Gave £1
. 5 sh and got nothing back.
Jake
s compound.
Sebastian
4 years old male. Jake
s compound.
Father Jake
Ndiel. Mother Gail
left Jake
and now lives Gembu Petil.
Steve
boy 4. Lives Harold
s compound.
Father Harold
Ndiel
Mother Thelma
now lives Tscharl left Harold
.
Ronnie
Male 4 years girlas compound. {sic}
Father Ronnie
dead lived in Tigul.
Mother Jacqueline
. Roderick
married her and child followed her.
Vivienne
6. Harold
s compound.
Father Harold
-Ndiel
Mother Geraldine
lives Harold
s compound. Is Johnson
s daughter.
Abe
5 years old boy. Lives Finlay
s compound.
Father Finbarr
from Vokude. Mother Eve
lives in Dorfe. Abe
and Finlay
have one mother Naomi
40 Tigul woman. Rob
her father dead, live her mother. She is not married All her children died.
Thompson
50 Caspar
s compound. Father Rob
dead, Chloe
mother dead. Her husband is dead. Caspar
her child.
Audrey
55. She sleeps in Scott
's compound. Father Goddard
dead. Mother Jennifer
dead. No child Alexandra
25 Ndarrup. Gregory
her father. Rosalind
mother. Timothy
husband lives Ndarup. One child.
Chieftainship.
Ngwa.
Obidiah
died. Rathbone
son of Obidiah
. Denis
had same father as Obidiah
diff.mother. After Denis
died not Ngwa as Rathbone
and Obidiah
too young. When he became old enough, they made Rathbone
chief. When Denis
died and no Ngwa left, water, river, spoiled farms. Since he became Ngwa river no longer spoils farms. Mr. Schneider, about four years ago, was here when he made Ngwa. No mission here when Denis
died. Rathbone
seven when Denis
die. He is now about 35.
March 19th. Beer party for those who helped Herbert
.
Many people other than those who helped on farm came. Adrian
made speech saying that people must be nice to me. Brought first jug from Frederick
. Gregory
had not yet appeared, when he came he sat next to me and was friendly. When stick to put in corn beer jug to stir it given to Frederick
he gave it to Gregory
to touch and give permission to put it in. The stirrer called (Tummba). Adrian
got first cup as Tschuk medicine had not yet been made for that compound and in every compound Tschuk medicine must be made before guinea-corn bear is drunk. Adrian
said "You spit beer" all said
Kissum Fi Bvani Kla Gia, {fií v\ni kela gia}.
Bad winds will not come here, all echoed eee, meaning yes.
Mbvu bvani kla kiawa, meaning bad sickness will pass on up side, people echoed Eee.
Nji bvani kali ndali samwa, bad things will not come to town, EEE.
Baturum bo Ndal Kali bila, bocki, njevani tual, If white man comes he will not say bad things. EEE.
Nyena Abili bo hi boke jum mi jange do botua ngil noma. Their boys which are at school will only say good things. EEE.
Then said that Mallam Taffi and John
will only say good things, EEE.
These statements all repeated three times. He then drank corn beer and spat it out. Drank and spat three times, then repeated all of above, then drank and spat again, repeated all again, drank and spat, then he finally really drank cup of beer.
>From first cup a bit thrown on the ground. The man who did this was Frederick
. He then put finger on drop on ground and put it on his right toe. There was no talking while this done. Then drank rest of cup. Anyone can do this but must be fairly big man. If Gregory
n there this would not have been done. Adrian
had also said in his speech that girl should come into town = Bvul ki hol kali. When he said this young boys put up index finger so that they would marry quickly. Continued with good animals will come to town = Nyan ki hol kali. Also blessed crops saying that they will grow well, and that peace will reign in the town.
Adrian
had been given mouse before he made his talk.
Hanley
boy 3 1/2 years old. Margot
is mother lives Ndarrup. Davis
father-Ndurrp parent still married. Hanley
is Frederick
s brother since Margot
is Frederick
s sister.
Terry
4 years He sleeps in Bartlett
s compound Tiker.
Sophie
his mother married at French side. Bartlett
his father in Tiker. Sometimes he sleeps at Frederick
s compound as his father has no wife at present. His mother is Lance
s sister.
Working on Frederick
's farm.
Mbon, Clifford
's wife, Warren
, Simon
or Sarkin Fater, Langley
, Aneurin
, Tomas
, Rod
, Daryl
, Not all of these his, Frederick
's relatives, some just came to help.
They all seem to rush about madly without any organization. They work steadily, with some spurts. Seemingly no competition. They are building mounds.
How Mambila Flog their women.
If woman does something that angers you, if she argues with you, then you can slap her or beat her with stick, she may try and hit you back. If she is vexed then she may go to her place and cry. She stays there until you go and talk to her kin. Usually she goes to her mother. Her kin judge case. If she has been wrong mother will tell her not to do it again. If man is judged to be in wrong then he pays 5 to 10 sh. or cock. Mother gets the money. On first occasion of dispute mother alone decides. If more disputes then father may decide. If mother takes your money then girl returns, but does not come back with you. Your father, mother, or important kinsman must go fetch her. She is brought by them to your house. Even if girl at fault you must pay something but small amount maybe two or three shillings.
Your older brother will try and stop her going to her family, he may use force. Often she is stopped. John
once flogged Theresa
, she went to her mother. This was because Theresa
had not cooked food when John
came. Her mother adjudged Theresa
wrong, John
paid 3 sh Theresa
's brothers and mother were there when case heard. If disagreement about evidence between wife and husband, medicine is brought and they made to swear. The brides kin can take wife away if they wish. If wife leaves husband man gets children, unless they very young, in which case they go to mother and return to father when they grow a bit. If husband is wronged party he can claim bridewealth and children, if he is wrong then only gets children, but not bridewealth.
MANG POLITICAL SITUATION.
They gave Don Lawan money to grant them chieftainship. He took money but did not give them independence. They now want chieftainship of their own and not be under Kabri as they are at present.
Mambila God.
When people die God comes for them. People dont really die, but they get new bodies (as do snakes) New body is white. Chickens of dead are also white. Dead live on the Earth, but not many people have seen them. Your brothers who have died will come to get you when it is your turn, that is they will come to decide whether to take you. Often they decide not to as you have other people to take care of, especially children. If they decide to take you, according to John
brothers must be unanimous on this point, they bring you cooked chicken in palm oil, if you eat if then you will die. If some don't want you to die they will stop you from eating it. If they refuse you the portion then you must not turn around to watch them go, if you can stop from doing this then sickness will finish. All dead people called Tschang. There is no one Tschang.
A little corn beer is poured on the ground for them. Every time you eat or drink beer a little should be thrown on the ground. Dogs and fowls eat this but they only eat bad parts as good eaten by Tschang. Your sacrifice is eaten by your dead relatives only. If you don't throw it voluntarily some will fall from your hands, this is bit taken by Tschang. Some dead are good living other are bad. If person dies on a very rainy day he will be bad for the living. If you see dead in dream this is bad and they should not come back. They can make you sick. If you don't like small children you are bad and dead will punish you. Food given to both ancestors of mother and father. Some throw food on their right side for father's kin and left side for mother's. If you get ill there is medicine man who can chase dead away, this is medicine called Njur Nami. Works for all dead, not only for family dead. Spirits cannot hurt you if you have not done bad thing, or are not vexed with other people
MBONSHIP
No European chief at time of Obidiah
. Fulani came to him. Rathbone
second Ngwa not Mbon. When Rathbone
died his brother was small. Fulani told people to bring all of Yuyus sons and brothers to Banyo. Thomas
was big man and told Rudolf
to go to Banyo. Chief of Banyo asked Rudolf
whether he was of Yuyus family or Yuyus son, and he said no was not related. Chief of Banyo sent him back telling him to bring Yuyus son. When Rudolf
returned he told people what had happened and they took Yuyus son, Denis
and went with him. Denis
given big gown, by Banyo chief. When they gave Denis
gown, Banyo chief gave him matches. He told Denis
to take out one match daily. After ten matches were out he was to expect Banyo chief who was coming to Warwar and was to be given help in war against some other people. No Europeans in Banyo at that time. After five sticks had been put out Germans reached Banyo. Chief of Banyo did not come. Germans passed through valley later, first sleeping at Gembu then Tiker. Germans made Rudolf
chief because he could speak Fulani, and was about the only one who could in the village. Rudolf
told Tom
, his brother and Johnson
his son, that when he died he was to give back his chiefs gowns to Tscharl people as he had no right to them. When Rudolf
died, Tom
took his gowns to Denis
. Denis
said, no he was too young and that Tom
should keep them until Denis
asked for them. Tom
became ill and consulted NGAM oracle. The oracle said to give clothes, that is chieftainship back to Denis
as he had no right to it. So Denis
got clothes back and became both Mbon and Ngwa. He went to Maya Daga and given more gowns. When Denis
died they gave clothes back to Tom
. Kassala Phillip
, the man who is alive today told them to do this. Tom
refused. Phillip
finally persuaded him to take him to take them. Fulani wanted Obidiah
(present chief) to come to Maya Daga to be given office, but he was very small. Tom
agreed take clothes until someone of Obidiah
's family grew up. Tom
became sick. He called Kassala Phillip
, Tristan
(a big man) and Rathbone
(present native chief). Tom
told them that clothes were killing him so that when he died Tscharl should take them back. Tom
died. Conlan
got Fulani to give him clothes though people did not want him as chief. He was not related to Denis
or Tom
. Mindels mother came from Conlan
s family. Conlan
died shortly thereafter. Conlan
died. Theobald
wanted to become chief. Neither people not Fulani agreed. Obidiah
and Rathbone
still small. Fulani told Theobald
that he could be chief if he taught Rathbone
how to be chief. Theobald
did not help Rathbone
. Theobald
died. Some wanted Rathbone
to become chief. D.O. agreed. Rathbone
was European and Native chief until he got leprosy. Johnson
offered to make Obidiah
chief. Rathbone
said wait and see, how sickness went. Johnson
did not wait and showed S. Zielinski
to D.O. Zielinski
was made chief. Zielinski
caught and put in prison. Johnson
told Tscharl people to take back chieftancy.
Obidiah
the first was a great fighter so they decided to make him chief. All agreed that he was a great man. He spoke nice things and didn't hurt others. Always spoke the truth. Rathbone
says that Fulani did not make Obidiah
chief but the he got it from people of Geshemi, near Dorofe. When he was made chief he killed a large goat and gave feast to the big people. Big people agreed to make him chief. When Fulani asked who was chief Obidiah
came forward and was given gowns. The chief's chair and bush cow tail come from Geshemi.
Karel
and present wife Yalipki have had three children, one died. He had a daughter by previous marriage who lives in Tigul. The wife died so she went to live with mother's father.
Aldous
boy about 8. His father from Tiker is dead. He lives with his mother's brothers son. Cedric
.
March 26. John
on Johnson
.
Johnson
left Tiker because when Samuel Zielinski
was working for mission he went to preach at Ndarrup and he lived there. When D.O. asked who was to be chief he asked big people. Johnson
asked Schneider for John to be made chief. Schneider agreed and they took Samuel
. Samuel
had two children while at mission when they came to Tiker the two died. John
says that he bore more, 4, but all died, only four remain. Samuel
said to Johnson
, how when he was at mission children lived and when came to Tiker they died. Samuel
's penis became weak. He went to consult tarantula. It said Johnson
s wife bewitched his children. Samuel
told Johnson
it was his wife who was causing trouble. Johnson
said no. Samuel
spoke to big people and both Johnson
and wife denied it. Johnson
was vexed and went to Tscharl. He went while Samuel
was chief, but after Schneider had gone. The conversation in Tscharl yesterday was to get Johnson
to come back, Samuel
says that he wants him back though according to John
it is not finished in his heart. Samuel
wants him to remove Samuel
's medicine. Johnson
talked with Gregory
who agrees only if all big people agree. Johnson
told Samuel
and Samuel
said to call all Kasalas. Samuel
said Johnson
must come back as it is bad for father and son to be angry at each other. Samuel
speaks of Johnson
as his father. Johnson
agreed to come back.
Medicine made for Johnson
March 25.
Cecil
made medicine. Johnson
said that he was vexed at Samuel
who is small boy and drove him away. But now Samuel
begs him to come back, so he must agree. If Samuel
vexes him again he will leave Samuel
no property and leave for good. Johnson
also vexed because no one helped him on farm. Cecil
called to make medicine as is big Tschuk man at Tiker. He says: You are vexed with your small brother, we the people with Juju medicine are here. The Juju shall not hurt you again, before saying this he spits on Johnson
. Spits again and says, the Jujus catch the earth, spits, the Jujus will not catch you. He takes Johnson
s hand and makes it touch the ground three times saying each time, the Jujus catch the earth, then touches Johnson
s right and left side of chest saying the Jujus will not hurt your ribs. Touches throat, saying Jujus will not hurt your throat, Cecil
then clears his throat. Touches both right and left side of temples, saying Jujus will not hurt your head. Then snaps fingers over Johnson
s head. Medicine called Shoa medicine as is all medicine involving Jujus. Johnson
, Nyap (T) all have it and they taught it to John
's family. This is made all over Warwar when a person is vexed at someone in his family. John
says that you can't really get vexed at someone to whom you are not related. Some medicines given only to men, others to both sons and daughter.
Johnson
s wife could witch Samuel
as he is of Johnson
s family. You can only bewitch people living near you.
Shoas. = Jujus.
Made by man, but Shoa not only man made things but also other things. If I make Juju some one not of my family can wear it. Only members of family can look in medicine house. If one touches a black fish or eggs can't go near medicine house for one day. It spoils medicines if you do. The day that they make big medicines they don't eat or drink from utensils used by women for eating or drinking. Women however prepare food.
Graeme
s first three children died
Rolf
's Shoa.
Called Bagalmi. Rolf
's father bought it from Mr. Schneiders carpenter who is Mambila and who made plenty of them. This Juju flogs people, it flogs people O.K., but you can't hit it back or you must give a goat. The man who is inside of the Juju gets the goat. If a big Juju flogs someone he will surely die. Juju flogs man with Lebur grass.
Roland
Father Theobald
dead, mother Veronica
dead. Neal
(m) and Beryl
(F) are his only full siblings. Felip medicine given by his father's full brother. He learned it as small boy. Cadogan
has same father and mother as Theobald
. Beryl
Roland
's sister also has it. She married and living at Mang. Only he and his brother have it in Ndiel but in Tiker Tommy
(a small boys name) and Rodney
have it. At Tscharl Noah
has it. Theobald
paid his brother to teach it to Roland
, he had learned it in Kabri. Roland
has made the medicine and been paid 3 shovels and ten shillings. He can sell medicine and has done it to his brothers and sisters. Cannot sell it to person outside of family. The gifts given to medicine man are given by parents of twins. He returns them to the parents and claims them when twins about 8. If he took it earlier and twins died, the parents might think that he had done bad medicine. If one dies of the twins you get whole fee, if both die then you only get a little. If one of twins is girl he must make medicine when she is about to marry. When asked what would happen if he were not called when twins born, he said that no one having twins would dare not having Felip medicine made. Big ant decides which medicine man to call.
Ian
's Communal Farming.
Ian
passed my house at 6:45 A.M. with a pot of beer on his head. I went to his farm at 7:30. Five men there and Ian
's wife, his mother and another girl. His wife mother were planting. At 8:30 sat and drank some beer. Present were Mbon, Martin
, Aidan
, Vivian Zielinski
, Roland
, Ian
. 2 jugs drunk at 8:30. Clare
a small girl living near Ian
s compound, his wife and mother there. They first made ridges on already cleared land. Then later made small hills under which they had buried elephant grass. Plant corn in the hills. Pride is taken in the ridges. Sticks are stuck in the crests, so that when girls ask who made a certain pretty ridge, they can say I did and be proud.
GENTLEMEN FROM MANG APPEAR MARCH 31st.
Joachim
full sibling Wakili of Mang
Jocelyn
, same father with Wakili, but different mother.
1st chief of Mang was Francis
was native chief; Kabri had their own native chief. When Francis
chief, Tagnana, Man, Karake, Dembe, Ninge, Ngur, all were under Francis
. He lived in Mang. When he died his real son Leigh
became native chief, all towns stayed under him. Leigh
died, Blake
became chief; he was Leigh
's son. All towns stayed under him and he lived in Mang. Fulani came from Banyo. Bernard
was chief, & Hudson
's son. Was 1st European as well as native chief. All towns under him. He lived in Mang. When Fulani came people said that they would pay them not to trouble the Mambila. Fulani agreed and so people paid. With cornflour, chickens, and one slave, among person. Chief gave them slaves. Bernard
died. Alexander Lardner
became chief. Was son of Bernard
, lived in Mang. All towns under him. Alexander Lardner
called the Kassalas from all the towns and told them to join him in going to salute chief of Banyo. Banyo chief gave him a gown. Bernard
was 1st chief to get gown. Fulani chief kidnapped the Kassalas but let Alexander Lardner
go back. Kept 5 Kassalas. These escaped except Alexander Lardner
's son. Alexander Lardner
died. Van
became chief both European and native. All towns followed him. Slept at Mang. Then Germans came. Van
told 2 men from Mang to go and live at Banyo so that when people came they would have place to stay. 2 men went. Van
died. War came to Banyo. English fighting Germans. Bert
, one of the men sent to live in Banyo, came back to Mang. No chief as people were looking for a good one. Bert
was Van
's son. Was not made chief as very old. Branigan
was made chief of Kara by Fulani after Van
died as Mang had no chief. Branigan
asked Mang to follow him. but Mang people refused, saying he had stolen chief. MANG PEOPLE WENT UNDER Kabri as would not go under Kara. Bert
said he would not be chief as too old but would wait until his children grew. Latimer
was 1st chief of Kabri, Mang people under. Edmund
was successor to Latimer
. Edmund
was brother to Latimer
but of different father and mother...Edmund
told Bert
that when he died Mang should not follow Kabri anymore. Should have their own chieftainship; Edmund
died. Dagmar
became chief. Was Edmund
brother, not same father or mother...as Dagmar
's fa. was Edmund
's father's brother. When Edmund
died they did not follow Kabri again. Bert
collected taxes and brought them himself, not paid under Edmund
. When Bert
died he made Godfrey
Wakili. Godfrey
's fa. and Bert
's fa. were real brothers. Godfrey
is now Wakili and has been for 8 years. They are not under Kabri. A D.O. Told them to fix resthouse but this not present D.O. Don Lawan was there. D.O. Told them to pay taxes themselves. They asked for their own chief. D.O told them to collect taxes, bring them to Don Lowan (Fulani) and he would give them gown. Many witnesses. When they brought tax Don Lowan said it was enough & he had written to Yola but had no answer. Said this on several occasions. Later they bribed him with £10, and lots of goats (they dont know number) Then Don Lowan moved and they neither got money nor chieftainship. They asked Darius
. He asked them whether they would follow Kara and they said "No - How could they?" - When chieftainship their own?" Darius
told them to come with big people to Gembu. D.O was there too. He said he would give them Chief. Wakili Shiajamo would be made chief. He is already native chief. They said they are not under Kara nor Kabri. Kara should follow them but would be free to decide for itself. Tagana follows Kara, has no native chief and does not want to follow Mang. Dembe following Ngumbin but they say if Mang has chief, they will follow him, as they are not happy with Ngumbin. Ninge follows Kara, does not want to follow Mang. Ngur under Kabri wants to come to Mang.
If sickness troubles people from Kara, Dembe, Ninge, Ngur, Tangana and Mang people join at Mang and make medicine. Each village bringing a goat. This medicine called "Mba" Made it last year: all brought goats. Mang has "NYA" medicine.
Francis
was made chief because he led them well in war. Warwar made Francis
chief.
SLAVERY -
Slaves = Kuer; Most slaves were Bororos Fulani or from Banyo side. They did not want men slaves except those born from women slaves. The men who were caught were sold or eaten unless they were very small and would not know where they came from. If you caught mature woman you kept her as wife. Women sometimes tried to run away but did not succeed often. But you could not mistreat a slave wife or she would run away. If men had slave wife her child will be free. If you have a small boy slave, and he grows up he will always be slave he can get Mambila wife and children will be free because of mo. At Tigul, there are some people from slave descent. John
thinks that there are lots of slaves in Warwar but does not know for certain. People are ashamed of slave ancestry, and being born a slave is shameful...At Mang it is sometimes thrown at their face. Slaves did not get slaves of their own.
GARTH
COMPOUND
His fa. lived at Yambap, now dead. Mo. from Ndiel, but dead.She lived in Brandon
's compound. His wife related to Archibald
. His fa. gave him Ngam medicine and he gave fa. a shilling. He can sell it to anyone. you can do it for a family member for nothing. but others must pay. Some give 2d., 3d., or 6d. He tells them how much to give. His mo. had same fa. and mo as Ian
's mo. John
says: Some medicines will not work unless paid for, but not all." You can choose any man you like who has Ngam medicine to do it for you.
Ian
's COMPOUND -
Nina
(Br) about 55, is Ian
's mo. Her mo. was Karen
. She says she is not related to Garth
's grand mo. came from family, He does not know how. Ian
says that Garth
is related to him through his fa. and therefore his mo. knows nothing about it.
FINLAY
's compound -
Finlay
's wife is Zoe
. About 28. Lived in Kabri. Her fa. from Kabri is dead. Her mo. called Gaynor
is alive on French side. She has no children
Ron
's COMPOUND
When Mallan Taffi comes to Warwar he sleeps here.
FREDERICK
's COMPOUND -
Moss
, about 25, hunchback, His mo and fa. both dead at Yambap. His mo has same fa and mo as Frederick
'
ARCHIBALD
-
Mallam Taffi married Archibald
's daughter, sometime ago.
GARTH
's COMPOUND -
Aidan
, his mo called Diana
, born Mang. She is now Theodore
s' wife. Theodore
is John
' fa's brother. Lives in Mang. Fa. of Aidan
is Nicholas
, dead. Lived in Tigul where he died. He is Garth
's bro. His fa. Nicholas
was Garth
's fa's real bro.
Clare
, girl of about 13-RON
's COMPOUND - Her fa. called Ishmael
, died at Titong. Mo: Joanne
is now married to Henry
. Ron
is her bro.
ROBIN
's COMPOUND -
Julian
is bro of Evelyn
who is the wife of Robin
and he came here with her. They same fa and mo. Dyson
lived there a long time ago but moved away.
RAYMOND
's COMPOUND -
Clifford
's fa used to live in Herbert
's compound, where he died. His mo. died there also.
BRENDAN
's COMPOUND
Josephine
is I think not related to Brendan
; he just takes care of her.
CHARLES
's COMPOUND-
Charles
's fa. is Conlan
now dead. Used to live where Frederick
's compound is.
NOR TALI OF NDIAL -
Clifford
says Frederick
is only Nor Tali. Ian
says Frederick
, Adrian
, Archibald
, Cadogan
and Dyson
are Rolf
says Adrian
, Archibald
, Cadogan
, Yanghshie, Harold
, and Frederick
are. Clint
is a little below them. Frederick
says Adrian
s, Archibald
, and himself are. Frederick
says Adrian
and Archibald
are of same family.
FOLKSTORY GIVEN BY LEMUEL
- April 7th -
One day some tree toads and a goat met for road. Treetoad walka walka and go far far and dug a hole. Went inside and find wa'er. Goat he looks for water and no find 'em. Treetoad told goat wa'er sweet, very sweet. Goat ask how can he get in hole? - Treetoad told goat to get long rope to tie around his neck and pull out treetoad. Then goat can come in. Goat got long rope, threw it down and treetoad tied it around his neck, then goat pulled treetoad out. Treetoad told goat: go in water as sweet too much. He drink wa'er but he was not sweet. He told treetoad: get me out! Treetoad said "No" and left...A big animal come. Animal say to goat: Where you from?" - Goat ask him to take him out and then he can drink sweet wa'er. Animal threw in rope and got goat out. Animal went in. Animal was antelope. Antelope ask to be taken out and goat say: Small time I go come" Goat told monkeys and they all came and carried stones. They threw lots of stones and killed antelope. Goat thanked monkey and went home. He talked to his wife and told her to made corn beer. They made much cornbeer. He then called monkeys. Large pots of beer filled and monkeys drank. A big lion came and saw them drinking. He said: "Whatie, goat, you call them monkeys and not me, and I am a big man!" Goat says he will bring him cornbeer and brings him pot. Lion drank it and said he was not full. Goat brought some more. Lion said it was not enough. And then he would eat all the goats and monkeys. All the cornbeer given to him and he left. Goat killed 2 fowls and monkeys ate them.
April 7th: LEMUEL
's STORY -
Animals from a line and had a race. 1st one to reach Kabri would be chief. A turtle climbed on an animal who ran very fast, an antelope. It rode on back. Just before finish line it jumped in front and crossed line first. When judges came, they saw turtle was first and made it chief. Turtle was big chief for them.
WILL
's STORY April 8th -
Once upon a time there was a Fulani woman who was going to town to sell her milk. On way to market she thought she was going to buy 10 eggs and these eggs would give her 10 chickens. And these 10 chickens would give her 10 sh. She would have other milk to sell which would give her 10 sh too, which would give her one £. She would take £ and buy a big beautiful gown and when she would go to dance place if any man wanted to dance with her she would shake her head from side to side. Forgetting she had a calabash of milk on her head, when she shook it, the calabash fell and was broken. This stopped all her plans. This story tells us we should not count our chickens when they are not hatched.
LEMUEL
's STORY APRIL 8th -
One day a man married a woman; he took lots of people and went to work for that woman's mo. All the people worked on the mo's farm. The wife went to cook the food and brought it to the farm and the people ate it all and worked again. The woman went back to cook food again. She wanted to find soup and plenty of vegetables. The people working the farm ate all the vegetables and when the wife came she did not find enough. Wife went back to house, Night comes. People go back to the house and saw that the wife was very vexed. Woman says "Why did you eat all the vegetables?" Everyman said it was not he. One man had taken the vegetables and was a thief man. They slept. When sleeping thief opened their mouths and put in some of the vegetables, he had them all in his back. And he went to sleep. He had washed his mouth with water. Daybreak. Woman says "how she go do, when she has no vegetables?" The thief said he agreed and told everyman to open his mouth. Thief opens mouth no vegetable. But others did likewise. and vegetables were seen. He had also stowed some in their bags. The woman was very vexed with the man who had married her daughter. Wife got some fowls she killed and cooked. They ate them then went home.
LEMUEL
's STORY
One day some chief, a boy was staying with him. The boy did all sorts of work and very much. When they investigated guinea-corn the boy went far to look at it on farms. A big lion came to the farm, the boy saw him and the lion saw the boy. The boy had only one spear, a very large and long one. The boy climbed a big stick, the lion wanted to climb but could not, He roared and roared as he wanted to catch boy. The boy shot the lion with his spear through the heart. The lion staggered and fell down. Boy thought that lion was playing dead but it was dead. The boy watched the lion and started to come down slow, slow. He came down and threw stones at lion. He went and touched lion with hands and saw he was dead. He ran to the village and told chief, and said to the chief to tell his people to come and see the lion. Chief said he was lying. Boy said send me with one boy and I'll show him. Chief said all right and gave him a boy. Boy went and saw it was true. Boy returned and told chief it was true; all people called. People came and chief led them to farm. People admired boy as he was small and had killed such a big animal. They carried lion and boy as he had done something big. They ran to chief place. The chief gave the boy some fine mats and gave him a young girl. They divided lion among the people. People went home.The boy stayed with girl and she got belly. Girl had pikin. Chief died. People did not know what to do, They said boy was like chief's son. They said that they would make him chief. He got big gown and many wives. The boy was not from the country but he got large country over which to be chief...
LEMUEL
's STORY - April 9th
One day some chief was planting calabashes. The calabashes got to be big, big. He made cornbeer plenty. He called many, many animals and they came. He sent one animal, a lion, to carry calabashes and lion went and reached there. He go touch the calabash and lift but calabash did not follow him. He came back without it, it was too big for him. They sent some monkey but it passed him too..They sent a rabbit with a horn, rabbit got there. He looked at calabash, he used horn and calabash began to run. Calabash followed him. Chief heard them coming. Lion said: "What small man can do so, when I could not do so!" The chief went to see. The calabash came in to compound. Chief gave rabbit fine mats. And gave him small girl pikin. They brought him all corn beer an gave it to him Lion got some too, but only small part. Lion drank it but said he not full. They divided the rest. Rabbit starts home with girl. Other animals vexed too much. Animals stood in bush and were going to kill rabbit and take girl away. Rabbit asks chief for small calabashes as he knew other animals were going to ambush him. Rabbit and girl got into calabash and go home. Animals saw it coming. But thought child had thrown it. Calabash climbs hill, and animals thought this strange.They went and caught calabash and broke it. Rabbit and wife ran away.
LEMUEL
's STORY April 9th
2 men on French side were walking at night. They saw small Bororo hut. Went into house. Made fire and slept. A big boa came and ate one men's legs. Man awoke with leg in boa's throat. Man asked his bro. If something comes to kill him will he run or not run? Bro says he would not run. Then he asked him to build up fire. Bro made fire. and saw snake and half-eaten man says "How we go do?" Bro says we'll kill him and carry him home to eat He got sharpened sticks, nailed through boa's tail. Man pulled out his foot. Foot came out with only small cut. They killed boa, took him home and chopped him.
Will
's Folk Tale.
One day somebody planted some calabashes. He asked his friends to lend him a tin so that he could cover the young calabashes. The friend did so. The calabashes remained for a long time and grew and the man's wife did not remove the tin. The calabash began to bear, it had lots of small calabashes. The friend came and asked for tin back. The woman who had planted the calabash was very sorry, she thought that she had removed the tin, but if she did so now all of the calabashes would die. The other woman said that it was too bad, but she must have her tin back at once. Woman went with her machete cut off calabashes and and took tin and returned it to original owner in spite of the fact that it killed all of her calabashes. After a year, the woman who owned the tin conceived, and delivered a young girl. At that time people put big rings on childrens necks so that neck would grow straight. She went to woman who had borrowed tin and said, "My friend help me with your ring, so that I can put it on my daughter's neck. Woman lent ring and put on daughters neck. Baby grew fine. After child five years old she asked for ring back as child well grown. Older woman said child not big enough yet and so it couldn't be taken off., and if it were it would have to be cut off. The owner of the ring said, No it must not be cut, when I gave you your tin it was in good condition, my ring also must be good condition. The other woman cried, saying if you insist I must kill my child, by cutting her neck to remove her ring. She repented for what she had done regarding the tin, so she cut childs throat and killed her baby. This story teaches us that we should be kind to others.
Lemuel
s and Clifford
s Folk tale.
One day two rats who no get wife. One rat take corn and made fufu and cooked with oil fine, then he put it in basket and went off carrying very long spear. He came out for road an man asked him "what you got there" Rat said I only got small food. Man say better I see, the rat cut off one arm of chicken and gave man small food. The man said thank you I was hungry and had no food. The man who took food said, go until you see black water then throw spear there. The rat came to dirty water and threw spear. Many people come out of water. One girl took all of the food and divided for brothers and sisters. After eating all but fine girl went into water. The rat took fine girl and returned to his house. The other rat still had no woman. Rat who had wife called Soll, the wifeless one called Tell. Rat with wife put her in one house but he slept in another house of his compound. Tell rat had no wife. Soll did not show him his wife. but he the wifeless one heard Soll laughing and he asked him with whom were you laughing. Soll said that he was alone. Tell went into house with fire as woman grinding corn flour, but woman hid. Tell took flour and left, when he did so he heard more grinding, so he quenched fire and went in again, again woman hid behind bed. Tell took fire again, quenched it again and came in again, did not see woman, so he returned to his house. Later he heard Soll laughing again. He sneaked out and peeped through other house's door. He saw woman grinding. He entered and woman did not run again. He asked Soll how he had gotten wife. Soll told him and told him to give hand of chicken to man on the road. Tell grinded corn, but did not do it well, cooked very small fowl and put no oil. Took old old spear and went out. Same man asked him on road where he was going. Gave him rude answer. Man told him to throw spear in clean water. Tell threw spear in clear water when he come to it. When people came out, he said that he would take women and go. Bad women with long teeth came out and divided the food with their brothers. He told women to come with him. Woman ask him to carry her on his back. They go. He asked her how long she should be carried, and she answered only a short way. When they had gone a way, she said she must be carried farther, and she repeated farther and farther until they got to his house. He then told her to bring guinea-corn. She told him to carry her to guinea-corn store. While climbing he hit his head on bamboos. Man rat took guinea-corn out and brought it down with his wife on his back. He told her to get down now and grind it. The woman said that No Tell must grind it with her on his back. He did and then cooked the food. He then told her to get off and eat, She said no, you eat and when you are full, I'll be full to. She stayed on his back. When he ate she would knock him with her long teeth on his head. He ate, took one handful of food for himself and then gave her a handful. They went to bed. When woman was asleep, he woke up, foresaw trouble and heard drumming from French side. He took head of bananas and put it near her so that she would think it was he. He locked door so that she could not go out. He went to dance. Wife woke up and was surprised. She went to the door and found it locked. She hit everything in the house looking for her husband. She then began to make medicine. Made fire. Then blew ashes in all directions and ashes went to French side and she followed them. Tell had been drumming and dancing. When she saw him she climbed on his back, and knocked him with teeth. Then they went back to his compound. Came to ant hill. Ant came out, he took one and chopped it, gave one to her, and then took turns eating one and giving her one. She was still on his back. He told woman to go into ant-hill and she would get plenty to eat. Woman went in and he stopped up opening. He started to light fire, Mambila style. Woman said what is happening. He set fire to to grass and to ant house. When woman was burned he ran away. Dry season time came. They burned grass. Man with his friends went hunting, when they came to place where he had burned wife, he found her dried bones. Bones flew up and hit him on fact. A man asked him for this bone, Tell said no, man insisted so Tell said go get four goats and I will give you bone. The man got four goats so Tell sold him bone. He said we will walk towards each other and when we hit heads you will get and keep bone. They bumped heads and stranger got the bone. Toll got four goats and went home.
GRIN medicine. Seen in Rodney
's compound April 12, 1953
Rodney
, Adrian
and Webon a big man from Vokude there. They were seated near the little fenced off area full of medicine in the compound.
The Big man Webon, blew his horn whistle. Then he shook out ants from sea shell. Then he took out red ochre from a horn. This he put on temples, top of head, both sides of stomach both shoulders and right toe of the boys and men there. Then put some on the women, making in additional zigzag marks between their breasts. Did same for tiny girls. Before this done a Yung bell and two metal zigzag rods had been planted on the ground, the rods stuck through leaves. Rods had feathers on them. The three big men had all touched the gong and applied red ochre too it. Bell struck. After women had been rubbed, Rodney
opened the medicine enclosure and with a sea shell took out water from a pot in it. Each woman tasted it and then rubbed herself on the head and right toe with the water. During this ceremony all but one took off European articles. Then they filled sea shell with palm wine and something else. The big man sipped. People around laughed and joked quite frequently, at times even the man making medicine made jokes. Much blowing of Tschuk whistles during ceremony. Men and women often wandered aimlessly about. Men had all removed their head covering. Beer had preceeded ceremony. More beer drunk at interim. A chicken was killed and the intestines hung on the tree of the medicine enclosure. Sharpened bamboo sticks being made by Rodney
and Webon. Each decorated with zigzag designs. People talking aimlessly. Bamboo sticks had been dipped in water of medicine enclosure. A bunch of white chicken feathers lying between the bell and metal stakes. Before the palm wine was drunk, as described a few sentences ago, Webon had taken two pieces of wood and touched each man on the head with them and both sides of belly. The bamboo sticks that were prepared are having white chicken feathers tied to them as well as some type of grass and leaf that had previously been soaked in water of enclosure. Bamboo sticks rubbed with ochre and water from enclosure. All in all 8 sticks made. Chick head stuck on one of the sticks. Chickens intestines and head were taken from medicine tree in centre. Intestines wrapped around the head on the stick by Rodney
. Little pieces of green fruit stuck on stick. Bamboo sticks were made by Rodney
and man from Vokude. Reason for making this medicine is so that breeze will not blow down corn, also stops witches from harming corn and people of compound. Iron stakes represent lightning which kills witches that come and spoil compound. The bell is of course Yung. Frederick
us not here as this is not his kin group, Clifford
came but just as spectator. The next day, saw bamboo with chickens head on Rodney
s house. 2 on Adrian
s house and one on another of Rodney
s houses.
MEDICINE FOR LETTING SON IN LAW SEE MOTHER IN LAW.
Called Guana medicine. Made for Mervin Bennett
of Foster
(Wakili) compound. Clarissa
is girl that he married. Lisa
of Elton
s compound is mother in law. Mervin
and Clarissa
married eight days ago, she has 4 children from previous marriage, but none with this husband, Mervin
. Wakili brings palm wine bought by Mervin
. Woman of compound say that it is not enough. Mervin
s face covered with leaf by Wakili, leaf called Bvulup. Once they meet, leaf taken away. The thing only lasts a few minutes. Much discussion over small amount of palm wine, but good natured apparently this is conventional. Johnson
and other big men of brides family have come. Women say that they want two jugs of palm wine, one for men and one for women. Nyap (t) settles discussion by saying that as they all come form same village one must suffice. Mother in law and son in law sit on ground. Wakili rubs their palms three times with leaves. Then breaks off little pieces of leaves and gives them to hold. Nyap (t) tastes palm wine, then puts a bit on leaf and each drinks from leaf. Then they drink from same calabash. John
took the calabash and a shilling from Solomon
, he gave the calabash with palm wine to one of his kin who drank a cup then gave a cup to Johnson
. Drink then finished by giving some to people present. When wine finished Wakili and Mervin
left for their own compound. Nyap (t) is brother of Lisa
SAMUEL ZIELINSKI
TELLS ME TO TELL FOLLOWING TO D.O.
Mambila ring Yung bell so that people who are not in the family wont steal their property. His maternal uncle Johnson
was vexed with him. When Johnson
allowed Warwar to take chief, he did not consult big men of Zielinski
s family. Samuel
wants to go to D.O. and tell him that Warwar took their property. Johnson
will go too. He can be made to swear bell, then will tell right thing. Witnesses Samuel
would bring are Adrian
who carried guns for Germans and Perry
from Gembu Petil. Perry
called Rudolf
and Rudolf
took one basket of corn flour and a chicken with Antony
and met Germans at Tiker bridge. He wants D.O. To ask big people who Germans made chief. Frederick
, Adrian
, Niall
(Kassala Tigul) Gua (Kassala Ndarup) Kassala Melvin
(Mverup) Kassala Gavin
of Yambap) should be asked. All of these will come and tell D.O. That native chief and European chief are different things. All will drink Yung bell to show that they are telling the truth. D.O. sent him to prison because he made a mistake. Prison is like school where people learned to do right thing. He will never steal money again. Chief is property of his family.
Carrying in grinding Stone seen in Ezra
's compound on April 15th.
Done by young and middle aged men of Ndiel. About twenty five men helped. Carried tremendous stone may have weighed up to 350lbs. It was carried on a stretcher. Stone tied to framework of sticks. Brought it from top of the hill behind the mission. Very rapid exchange of carriers, some of party carried others rested As they approached compound they sang very loud and those not carrying clapped their hands. Women all inside, women cannot see it being brought in. After it was laid down began to sing joke songs and two began to wrestle. Strutted about to show that they were not tired. Ezra
put an infinitessimal amount of salt on stone and most of bearers put their finger on it and tasted it. Dancing and singing lasted about ten minutes then all dispersed. Ezra
had helped a bit carrying stone.
Adrian
's compound. Eleanor
is Adrian
s brothers daughter, Julie
bore her, Stephanie
her mother. When Julie
died Adrian
took her
Native Chief
Ezra
was native chief. When rain does not fall, they go to clean his grave and stop up holes. He was called Ngwa, that is why Gregory
also is Ngwa.
Adrian
told me that one should sit when lighting fire to show respect.
RE BRETT
Josephine
became sister when Carolyn
married Sydney
e mother. Josephine
Sydney
's sister. Sydney
is carpenter of mission. When he left, they did not go to Gembu with him but stayed with Brett
who took care of them. They are not of Brett
s family, but he could not marry them as they sleep in his compound.
ELTON
's COMPOUND.
Antony
married Ferdinand
's mo., Janet
; when war came mo of Ferdinand
went to Ngubin. They lived in a man's compound. whom he does not know. Man took Ferdinand
s mo. as wife and conceived Ferdinand
. War finished. Janet
came back with Ferdinand
. Ferdinand
grew up here. Ferdinand
's mother delivered Mary
and Kennedy
was the fa. Mary
and Ferdinand
grew up together. Mary
exchanged for wife for Ferdinand
who was called Ruth
. Ruth
was Linden
's mo. and Ferdinand
was father. Ferdinand
's mo and fa. not in this family. but because Mary
was, as her fa, from this family, Ferdinand
was accepted as one of them. As Mary
was given in exchange F
's children cannot live here, and they belong to family. Ferdinand
is just like a slave here. Ferdinand
now lives at his fa's place at Ngubin.
SAMUEL ZIELINSKI
His mo's fa and Lisa
's fa's mo had same fa. Lisa
was mo of Compton
.
Elton
married Polly
, French boy's mo, and he came here with this mo. His Fa at Tep.
Henry
's mo's mo and Cadogan
's fa's fa. had same fa and mo.
April 16th - '53 - KENNEDY
's SON
It was born today. A whistle blown signalled it was a boy. For a girl no whistle is blown Kennedy
seems rather uninterested. Only one who seems really enthusiastic was Nyap, his fa. Tomorrow they will make Nam Kol medicine.
ADRIAN
's DAUGHTER
A
's daughter's child died. It died in Gembu yesterday. Adrian
harangued her for a long time. She was silent but for one denial. Afterwards she knelt and untied the cloth that he had worn around neck to carry baby. Adrian
told her to go back to Gembu as she should stay in compound when baby died. Adrian
said that the child really died at Vokude. Woman's husband was at Gembu. When husband came he saw child dead. Husband told her to come and tell her fa. They came and saw him. He told her to go back with her husband and somebody she can come visit him. She has had about 5 children and all are dead. He asked what sort of "sick" they have got. She was "vexed" as she thought he meant that she had killed it. She repeated story of woman's trouble in pregnancy. Adrian
told her to hurry and go home with her husband. A
. Told her she should have brought child here. so that he could make medicine. Some old woman told her that she must not leave Gembu until medicine is finished. When it finished she went to Vokude instead of coming to Adrian
and their child died. That is why Adrian
vexed.
NAM KOL MEDICINE FOR Kennedy
child.
Nyap Tiker will make it. He collects grass from side of road. Kennedy
got a red feather. No rush nor no solemnity before ceremony. Nyap's scrapes door with spear head, asking "is it a boy or a girl?" - Kennedy
's wife opens, says it's boy. Nyap closes door. He has grasses in his hand. Jack Kennedy
ask Nyap can he smoke? Nyap says yes. Door opens, baby brought to door. Nyap rubs him. says "Kissum", spits on baby, then does same for Ian
. Door shut. Spear stuck in roof by Nyap. Grass given to Kennedy
and Ian
, wraps around arm. Ian
walks away, laughs and jokes. This is only the 1st step. Baby does not come out fully until can work farm. If girl had been born, people could work.
KASSALA FROM NDIEL IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER - given by Frederick
Frederick
- when Mr. Ahrens here
Theo
-=Adrian
's family - Mr Dunger came when he Kassala
Connor
- Lance
's family
Cal
- Adrian
's family, during German times
Frederick
does not remember any further.
When Theo
died Theobald
and big people asked him to be Kassala. He said No. but they insisted. He collects tax, calls people for communal work, and decides who should carry and bring food to Europeans.
INHERITANCE
Ngwilie= what is inherited. Usually only small part of family inherits. Those sharing one mother or fa. The big man family does the dividing. If he is of same mo and fa as dead may keep most property but should give it to children of dead when these are to marry. If marriage by exchange, husband keeps wife's property, if not, her family takes it away.
Origins of Mambila and Warwar given by Frederick
People came to Warwar from the East, doesn't know who first came to Warwar.
One man and one woman were first of all Mambila. Doesn't know their names. Warwar, Vokude, Mang, Kabri, Kilatin and Ndarup all had one mother and father. Tschang made first man and woman. First man and woman had all big medicines. Ndiel settled first, then Tigul, Tscharl, Tiket. One man and one woman came first. Bonyilun was third generation of Warwar.
April 21st Ian
says that Adrian
s family brought medicine to make fence. Before they came no one in Ndiel had it.
From Ian
on 23 April Re INHERITANCE.
Ngwilliw is cargo left at death.
Memin, Tillmin Billa, Memin Billa, Tenmin Billa are all the same. (From what I gather it refers to a family group of varying range according to situation.
Frederick
s family is called Ndipe Barbo, Hammond
is Adrian
s family name.
Man or Manum. Ian
is Man for Duncan
or for Lonum or Man Gamsi. I think that a Man is a lineage. It may be used to refer to different orders of segmentation, to express unity or disunity of certain groups. To refer to the fact that they are of same family, they use last common ancestors name.
CAHILL
AND MAN
Cahill
says that he doesn't know his big father's name so doesn't know what Man he belongs to. his small father was Neil
, who also small father of Lorcan
, Pearson
, Cecil
Cahill
, Haldane
, Foster
, Nick
, Miles
Inheritance from Ian
April 22.
If Ian
were to die Frederick
, Clifford
, Craig
, Andrei
, V.Zielinski
, Davey
, Irving
, and Charles
would chop his cargo. If the people who are heirs have enough farms they give the deceaseds farms to his children, otherwise they can take them. Clifford
and Vivian Zielinski
would get big part. Joe
his son would get most. Then Irving
, then Craig
, Clint
next, then Andrei
, Frederick
would get smallest bit. Wife gets one fowl. Clifford
and Vivian
get most because Vivian
s father and Ian
s was one. It all depends on distance of kinship. If Ian
dies they give a bit of tobacco to Adrian
s family, they give tobacco to all who come to disposal of estate. If Ian
s wife agrees one of his brothers goes to her brothers with spear and fowl and gets her as wife. If wife is old she may stay with her adult children. Palm wine trees are given to closest kin. Ian
's wifes estate would go to her kin. You can't give outsiders farms before death, but can give them money. Ron
would get small small part of cargo.
All money made from farm produce belong to the man. Wife can take some of food from farms if children are still small and she takes them to her family's place. You cannot leave husband or wife money, but give them clothes. Vivian
would get Ian
's compound. If Frederick
not there Mallam Taffi would be big man for family, even if he continues to sleep in Mbamga. Wilfred
is Mallam Taffi's father doesn't know who was paternal grandfather.
IRVING
's COMPOUND. Herbert
's wife is Irving
's sister.
MAN
They help each other in fight. If member dies, then all members bring some corn beer, theoretically they all have share in estate of the dead. Impossible to marry girl in one's Man. Head man for each Man. You can't abandon Man membership, but you can move away if vexed. If member steals something, then all members help him to replace it first time. Second time he should pay himself. John
says that there is no way to kick a person out of Man.
John
May 17. Why John
doesn't eat monkey.
Longtime ago some man married his sister. Husband asked his family to come and help him work farm for his wifes father. When they came father killed chickens and goats for them. Sister of wife was very lazy. Her mother told her to go grind corn and cook chickens and goats. Girl obeyed. When all was ready she wanted salt to put in soup. She did not know what salt was so she asked mother what to put in soup to make it sweet. Mother told her to put sugar cane juice in soup. She ran to get sugar cane. She took juice out and put in soup. She tasted soup and it tasted bad. She went to father's medicine house and took salt and oil and put it in soup. She tasted soup and it was nice. She carried food to farm. The small calabash from which she had taken salt followed her. When she saw calabash following her she took it and threw it in bush. Crossed river and saw calabash coming again. She broke it into small pieces and threw pieces in bush. She went on and found calabash following her. When her father saw her coming followed by calabash he knew that she had opened his medicine house. Father said nothing, as he did not want people to know that his daughter had done shameful thing in opening his medicine house. He planned to give her a whipping when others left. He told her to give food to the people. All who ate food turned into monkeys. That is why don't eat monkeys. These people all came from a place called Gullup which is now a part of Gembu. All happened a long time ago. John
says that if he stole from a medicine house would probably not turn into a monkey. He says that his people in such a case, since it was father's shame that made people turn into monkeys. If father had questioned girl and even beaten her, people would not have turned into monkeys, as long as he had told people not to eat the food. These people are from John
fathers mother family.
Theresa
cannot eat monkey until she is too old to conceive. John
sisters can't eat, but their husband can, but must not eat it in house and must wash before coming into house. John
would shoot monkeys if he had chance but would give meat away.
Mi Mbon Yal=I don't eat monkey. John
doesn't eat Ndurup (a mole I think) but some do. He cannot even go to where mole dug hole. Once his mother passed over a mole hole and that night she had a fever and made the same kind of noise as a mole. He would not kill a mole
CHIEFS OF KABRI
Victor
first chief - Native chief of Kabri first
Latimer
second chief. European chief. Germans made him. Not native chief. Got gown from Banyo.
Edmund
third European chief.
Carver
4 European Chief
Adolf
5th European Chief
Ivor
and Latimer
were from Man Medi
Edmund
, Carver
, and Adolf
from Man Badju
Adolf
claims that he is Man Medi, but doesn't
know how. Others told me that they did not think
that he was.
Adolf
says that they gave the chieftainship to Edmund
because he spoke Fulani and was a good man. No one in Kabri has Nya nedicine they say.
Carver
was of Edmund
's family as is Adolf
.
Felix
who was big man for Man Medi made Adolf
chief. Kassalas had to agree. He admits that he has no real authority over people. Once ordered them to come and carry for Don Lawan, They all refused. Later Don Lawan fined them all.
Later people told me that now all living in Kabri are Man Medi. Charlton
told me that Carver
was his son, that is man who was chief, and wants chieftaincy to return to his family, apparently Adolf
only distant relative.
Several people told me that they had come to Kabri as Fulani had given them trouble where they were previously, often it was their parents who came during Fulani era. Edmund
, the chief or other chiefs gave them land for nothing as they were coming to sleep with them. An old man told me he came to live with his mothers fathers daughters son, because at Kara he had no one to cook for him. All his wives died. A man whose father was from Gishie, had his mother stolen Fulani does not even know her name. Later came to live with his paternal half brother.
Chief of Kabri has house of his own, Has 4 wives. They come to sleep in his house in turn as they cannot sleep in their houses. He says that he does not like to see his wives work or his children making a noise this is why he has house of his own, not for ritual reasons.
Kabri has six hamlets: Barki, Nduguli, Titsana, Noga, Tellier, Yallo. Wakili sleeps in Barki.
In one compound found two brand new wives sleeping in same house, but this temporary measure I have gathered the impression that there are more refugees in Kabri than in Warwar and also more living with distant kin.
John
on Weaning helped by others.
When child begins to walk they usually wean it. The last child often weaned later. The weaning process is either done by keeping him away from mother or rubbing pepper on the breast. Some send child away to mother's mother. This is quite frequently done, When a new baby is born older one must give up breast. Usually there is as least one month after baby is born before sexual intercourse begins. While woman is pregnant it would be bad to cease cease having sexual intercourse, it would weaken infant. Pregnant woman cannot eat snakes nor can husband. Neither can eat antelope. Some people taboo goat during this period. No pregnant woman can drink hot water or hot beer, but man can. Hot water is often drunk during fever, but by men, pre-married girls and post-menopause women. If snake is eaten by either parent child will not be born with feet, or if he has them they will be paralysed. The only abortient known to John
is hot liquid. If unmarried girl is made pregnant she will drink hot water, also married woman may try this if she has very small child already. Coitus interuptus is practiced. It is bad not to want your wife not to have children and practice coitus interruptus unless there is a good reason such as having small baby in arms.
Death by John
.
When person dies he continues to live on earth, but is invisible. Live in bush but John
does not know where. Dead sometimes make members of the family sick if the family group acts badly. If you mistreat your child they will make you ill or maybe the child. If you dont help living family members they, the dead will make you, your wife or children ill. If you don't at least from time to time throw some food on the ground for them as well as beer, the dead can punish you. Graves visited only of persons with some big medicines like Adrian
's father.
Jujus by John
.
These is special medicine which gives Jujus power. Archibald
, Adrian
, Nyap (t), Johnson
are some having the medicine. They, that is the above people don't make Jujus. Nyap bought his from a man in Tangana. John
says that he doesn't know why people want them.
Toilet Training John
.
About four years old training begins. If child defecates behind house he may be flogged. If child small he wakes nearest male to take him to bush to defecate. If child urinates in bed the father tells him not to drink water at night. If he continues to urinate at night, other children are told and they come and laugh at him.
KURUMI by John
.
This corn beer that some people join together and drink. About six people join together and form a Kurum. You can invite members of your family or others to join your Kurum. The members help each other on their farms. Each of members farms are worked in turn, and each supplies beer after his farm worked. Usually members are about of same age. Kurum members appoint a big man who keeps the peace within the group. He does not do farm work for group. He is the first to drink the beer at the meeting.
Parental Sanctions. John
.
If you disobey your father he can when he dies make you or your children ill. Women of your family, too can make you ill after they die, men of your family can also, but only people who died after reaching maturity. Only dead of your own family make you sick. Food sacrificed at meal times is only for your own family. Both mother's and father's kindred can sicken you, as well as any person to whom you can trace relationship, or know that they are related to you. Big ant tells you who is making you ill and why. If it tells you that some ancestor making you sick you find who makes the medicine to drive away the ancestor. The medicine called Nam almost all people have it. It works well if you have not sinned and the dead were punishing you for nothing. If you sleep with your sister, your mother if dead, is one most likely to make you sick. John
says that plenty of people sleep with their sisters, and plenty get sick from so doing, both man and woman may be smitten. You tell the Nam medicine man how you have sinned and he may or may not agree to make medicine, he may refuse if it is a bad thing that you have done. John
knows of two cases both of full siblings who slept together. In one case the man died and in the other the woman nearly died but one Kwabira agreed to make Nam medicine and she was saved.
Ancestors
in Warwar called Tschang. They make you sick for the following:
Incest
, Bad to children, bad to parents, grandparents, when they die they punish you. If they are vexed with you and you with them while they still alive, Jujus will catch you. When your father dies he may tell you to live in a certain place, if you disobey he may make you ill. If father or other relative says that you must take care of relative and you don't he will sicken you. If you eat and don't give anything to your living siblings or brothers who are there, parents (if dead) will make you sick. You must give siblings part of your food or it means that you want to make trouble for them. This rule only holds if you live near one another, in same compound or compound cluster. If you get angry with siblings this vexes dead and they punish you.
Jujus can make you sick also.
1. If you are vexed with parents. 2. If vexed with other relatives. 3. If you are a witch 4. If you are a thief. 5. If you transgress rules concerning Juju.
When they make big medicine with Juju they say Juju must catch witches and thieves, whether thief steals from family or not. However if medicine put to guard objects, medicine catches thief not Jujus. Yung bell is a Juju and it make you sick or kills you if you swear falsely. It catches you if you steal whether it is rung or not. If thief who is sick, confesses, and bell rung again he will get well. Kwurum too can catch you for same reason as Yung. Anyone can buy Yung or Kwurum medicine some young people have it. Nyap (T) has both Kwurum and Yung. Cecil
(t) has both. Adrian
has Yung may have Kwurum. Johnson
has both. The reason that people are angry at prohibition of resort to sasswood is that Yung, Kwurum and other shoas not as efficient as it is in killing witches.
Grinding Corn.
In Kabri we saw a man with Geli medicine touch the rubbing stone to his forehead, before woman can use it to grind, otherwise her head would hurt from grinding.
Language.
Lulh is used for village in Warwar dialect. Mburr used for hamlet or ward. Far is compound
Shaming Songs.
It is usually the opposite Man that sings shaming songs. It is they also who curse offender publicly. Sometimes the two Man will fight if cursing too long or too violent. Fight only with sticks. John
's Man fought opposing Man at Mang, during his lifetime over some bamboo trees. Sometimes fights break out over women.
MEDICINES OWNED BY JOHN
.
Gor - Nyap (T) his mothers brother gave it to him, while he still in mother's arms. He cried so much and gave his mother plenty of trouble so he was given medicine. Small sum given to Nyap 1/2d. Sometimes a bit of corn given instead of money. Medicine man gives child water, and says. "I give you water of Gori, you will not cry, you keep quiet, you will grow, you will not have dysentery. Then medicine man point at mother's breast and says "You drink from breast, when you have drunk from breast you will grow very fast. Then medicine man spits on babies chest saying Kissum. John
says that he himself can give medicine but only with Nyap's consent. If John
's child cried too much, he would go to Nyap and ask him to let him use medicine. Nyap would say yes and not make him pay.
Tschuk medicine.
Time when they make Tschuk medicine. 1. When all of the grass has been cut and fields ready for corn, when corn planted they make it.
2. When big Juju party made behind the fence.
3. The first time guinea-corn or corn is used for beer. Medicine man recites his formula. For corn it is less important than for guinea-corn. For guinea-corn if Tschuk man not there he is sent for. If Tschuk man not there for first corn beer they drink it without him, but must not fill up beer basket. Done only once for new crop.
4. Hunting. When they start grinding corn beer for Tschuk dinner, the Tschuk man makes medicine so that animals will not run fast and will allow themselves to be shot.
5. If Tschuk man dies they make the medicine for him.
Tschuk medicine makes:
1. Good women marry town boys. 2. Bad women go to sat away. 3. Good animals come. 4. Bad animals go away. 5. Makes young boys attractive to girls and marry quickly. 6. Keeps strong winds away which would destroy crops. 7. Prohibits bad illnesses coming to town. 8. Makes witches sleep in their houses at night and not go out to eat people. 9. Keeps Europeans calm and saying good things. 10. Makes stranger Mambilas who come to town behave well. 11. Makes boys in school learn well and not forget, also act well. 12. Keeps local Mambila who are away travelling well.
Tschuk medicine men wear little black horns around their necks, these are used as whistles. Other medicine holders also wear like horns. Tschuk man blows whistle when wind becoming strong and stops it. When you use your new crops of corn or guinea-corn for beer, you give Tschuk man a mouse and first part of beer. The Tschuk used at birth of child is different. The Tschuk man here puts up Guli grass on gate of compound when new baby born and Nam Kol medicine has been done. This is done the first day baby taken out of doors. He comes to compound bringing Guli grass and others. He takes palm wine (this given by father). He nails two sticks on the gate and put a stick across top and tie Guli to it, so that people that come in have to pass under it. When Guli grass put up, medicine man says you are going to bear male children. The children will grow rapidly, they will not be ill. Palm wine then drunk and medicine man spits of Guli grass three times, all of the above is said three times too. Medicine man slaps hand of the father and touches his own right shoulder while father does the same. Father and Tschuk man join in drinking palm wine. This should be done before the Nam Kol man takes the child out.
Yung medicine by John
.
When guinea-corn grows they made medicine for it. Mvir, Ka and Tshimbir as well as other Jujus go behind the fence (Bel). Beer made aplenty.
You cannot sleep with any girl with whom you nave not previously slept during this period. However if you have been sleeping with a girl, even if not married you may continue. If you disobey the regulation the Yung bell will get you, also birds would eat everyones guinea-corn. If birds trouble guinea-corn much big ant will tell who is guilty, then guilty person will give a fowl to owner of Yung bell, who will make medicine for sinner. You can't sleep with a new woman until the guinea-corn is harvested. When guinea-corn harvested another medicine made called Yum also. After is harvested new sexual relationship can be contracted. At first medicine making bell is rung behind the fence. Mvir and Tscimbir are there. Two Jujus keep quiet they don't dance. They drink corn beer. Mvir is a fruit that is used as a whistle. Tshimbir is a calabash that people blow into. (Owned by Hal
) Ka is a kind of reed with holes in it that is spoken into and makes an odd noise. (Hal
owns this) Guinea-corn is pretty high by this time, and is at stage where birds can eat it. All who possess a Yung bell have the medicine. Yung bell can stop witch and thief. If someone ill Ngam may say someone witching him and that ringing bell will stop them. (Ngambe is big and in Fulani. Called Ngam in Warwar.
Prophecy by John
.
John
went to Kwabira and asked a man called Alf
. The diviner took water and seeds of grass. He has client throw seeds in water. Looks into water. Diviner asked John
what was the matter with boy he was enquiring about, John
said he was sick. Paid 3d. Man looked into water, and said he thought boy would die, if John
liked he could take boy to medicine man, but if medicine man asked high fee don't give it as boy will probably die. When he got home and told his father the latter said to ask someone else, so he went to Brady
. Brady
cut sticks. He told John
boy would die. John
did not pay him as Brady
is a relative. John
's father believed it now and did not go to anyone else. A week later boy died. The boy was the son of his mother. At that time John
was almost on the verge of marrying. When he was about to marry Theresa
he went again. He went to Mvamba and paid 4d. The latter brought a stick and said that John
would marry her. John
did not want to marry her at all, he then said that he would marry her in spite of not wanting to. The girl that he really wanted to marry was called Ellen
, the medicine man said that he could not marry her. Then John
went to Brady
who cut sticks and said John
could not marry Ellen
. He then asked about Theresa
and man seemed enthusiastic and said Yes yes. John
went to Ellen
s place. He talked to her and she said that her mother and brother did not want her to marry John
. Some of his brothers had married sisters of Ellen
and more marriages would be bad. That day he was disgusted so he went to Theresa
and she agreed. Her brothers and parents agreed so he married her.
Then he went to Ivan
. He said he wouldn't marry Theresa
. Ivan
asked Ngam, Ngam said John
would not marry Theresa
.
Reason he went to so many was to test Ngam. He then asked Ngam whether he would marry Ellen
. Ngam said yes if he tried very hard. By this time he was reconciled to marry Theresa
. He went again to Ellen
and she repeated same objections. Month later she married another man.
John
on Kwurrum May 26, 1953.
John
added his info, actually mostly from Ian
If big man dies Kwurrum comes out. Kwurrum is little pieces of iron tied together. When shaken they make noise. Only comes out if dead man had borne children. If Graeme
should die Cadogan
would give it to Archibald
to use. Only one Kwurrum in Ndiel and that owned byCadogan
, Johnson
has it for Tiket. The Kwurrums of all four hamlets would come. If Ian
were to die Archibald
would use Kwurrum, Johnson
for Tiker, Tscharl and Tigul would also come. Vokude would send one as Ian
's family made agreement with Vokude. Tigul would bring another type of Juju as they don't have Kwurrum, the same true for Tscharl. Only people with whom your family has an agreement or people from the town itself bring Jujus at death, or people may also come from your father's town. Kwurum dances is not hit like Yung. Kwurum brought to kill witches if witch killed the dead. If people claim more from estate than due them or don't pay their debts to estate then Shoa or Kwurum will kill them.
When locusts come the Kwurum taken out and shaken. It is told if witch brought locusts, then witch should die, but if God brought them it is alright. If cold comes early used in same way. People don't swear on Kwurum as they do on Yung. Ian
gave a fowl to learn how to use it, but never did.
SOULS - LEOPARD MEN By Ian
Ngui medicine men are those who can tell whether people can turn into leopards or not. No one in Warwar has it. A girl from Tiker turned herself into a leopard (Ngui) but medicine man from Yambap cured her. Leopards sometimes kill man but only in self defence. People know they are turning into leopards. But medicine has to be made in order to stop them. If leopards fall and are shot then the man dies. If leopard is injured unless the Ngui medicine man comes rapidly and makes medicine wounded person will die. Before medicine is made full confession must be made.
DEAD - by Ian
and John
Some die because of witches, some die because they are witches. And some God takes. Tschang made the world. Probably lives in ground. Ian
dreamt about dead people (Tschang) but did not worry him nor made him sick. Mo. of Archibald
saw the dead under the mountains surrounding Warwar. They build houses and grow carrots.
NAMING CHILDREN AFTER DEAD does not mean any form of resurrection. Mo. of Ian
died (She is still alive!) She saw her sister and husband who had already died. She saw boxes and boxes full of fine cloth and meat. Her husband and sister told her she must go back as she has 3 small children to take care of. They took grass and water, sprayed it on her and she woke up. She had been unconscious for some time - she had been "dead" all day.
A pagan man died. When he woke up he said he had seen bad people carrying heavy loads of firewood all the time with no place no sit down. Ian
says he does not think people have spirit helpers.
HOUSEBUILDING - Ian
When new house built So medicine is made to keep witches away. And Lobal medicine made to keep peace in new house. Same is done for new compound. Most compounds have Mangara trees growing in the middle. This to keep witches away. But some witches can pass this Mangara tree and So and that is why they regret not being able to use Li (sasswood)
WITCHCRAFT
If you confess to being a witch and using poison (Tom) then medicine man may refuse to make medicine for you and make you die. This is only reason for which medicine man can refuse to help.
Witches bury hair under ground to bewitch people. There are people who can find the hair, get it out and cure person. This medicine called Bol or Bal. Garth
has it. They rub their hands together. When the hands begin to act wildly this shows where hair is. They also find lost things in the same way. Ian
has seen them find hairs and lost objects.
IAN
ON DREAMS
Some are true some are lies. Ian
dreamt that he would see special man from Ndarrup. Next day man came.
LOVE MEDICINE
Called Ngur Ya. Many different types. Cuts hands and toe nails and hair and takes dirt from skin. Finds grass and joins it with dirty nails. Makes fire. In broken pots puts thing in and burns them. Puts ashes in cornbeer. Then join with beer drinking one cup of beer. Man only pretends to drink. He washes cup and brings it back. This makes woman fall in love.
JOHN
ON THE DEAD
If graves have holes on the top then they know corpse has left. This is only true for big people. Corpses comes out when family does something bad, but only if lots of bad things are so done. Then they give their family fever. Nyena Nyu comes and blocks the hole with mud. Same place will be peaceful. Dead people when out of the grave stop rain, because people be bad; Ron
cleans the grave of Adrian
's fa. To make rain. He is Nyena Nyu. They also take weeds from grave.
WITCHES John
All family have witches. They use the open stomach of dead to see if man is witch. People go and see by the dozen. Inside a bag of the body but not the stomach, if there was meat it showed that man was witch as it was meat he had eaten.
If your father is witch man and does not give you medicine then you no go be witch. Fa. can give witch medicine to girl or boy. Mo. can also give it to both. Witch can give medicine to anyone even to people not members of family. You can get it any time both old and young are witches.
ILLNESS - Ian
If person gets very sick either they or family go to big ant. They themselves go unless very sick. You tell big antman that brother is sick and you ask whether he will die or not. The sick man has rubbed a stick on his forehead and spat on it. This stick given to Ngam man. Stick and stone put into hole of Ngam. If bad, Ngam moves stone. If good sick man will live. Ngam moves stick. He Ngam takes stone you ask Ngam whether medicine can be used to make him well. You ask question like this "If we ring bell on his head, will he be well"? For yes Ngam catches stick, for No he catches stone. If it says No, then you ask it about other medicines like Ngonum, Ngupshoa, Nu, Tu, Nga or others. If Ngam agrees to Nu you come to sick man and tell him that. Nu man obtained and makes medicine. You also ask Ngam whether sick man should be taken away to avoid witches. If Ngam says he is being witched, you start asking more questions. First If sick man is sick because he is a witch and Yung caught him? If Ngam says, yes, then you reverse stick and stone and expect Ngam to give same answer. If it does not you stop. Then you ask Ngam whether you are witching him? - if not you, then fa. mo. and other relatives until guilty person found. If mo. is the witch all big men of compound and women are called and other big men. You tell them that man is not sick for nothing. You say that big ant says that woman is witching him. You tell woman that know she is guilty, to come and make medicine. Tomorrow he must be well. If man does not get well tomorrow, you call all people and point out witch. If she does not stop there is nothing you can do about it. Sometimes her husband make her leave but not always and they dont try to make him do so. Some agree that there are witches and sick finishes.
JUJUS At Play by Ian
Big Jujus of Ndiel and Tigul play here, those of Tiket and Tscharl play at Tiket. One day Jujus from here go to Tiket and the following day they all come here. It is play Jujus that go to steal corn from farms. Big men eat and Nyena Nyus eat stolen corn. Many strangers come. Nyena Nyus sit with Warwar people, other strangers don't. Archibald
is person that shows people how to do it and gives them guinea-corn. Jujus play so that guinea-corn will grow well. Adrian
and Archibald
both have Bel medicine, that is what makes them big men as well as Adrian
s Tschuk medicine. Archibald
and his son Thor
make the fence. Actually Archibald
does it, and Thor
will do so only when Archibald
dies. Ian
says whether leaf on tiny plot comes out or not, it Adrian
plants guinea-corn others follow. The ant eggs under stone not used in Warwar bit in Yambap according to Ian
. Clifford
makes experimental farm also according to Ian
. Last locust infestation came to Warwar before mission settled here.
Ngambe
.
Bad Ngam is one who does not give same answer both times. Witches sometime bewitch Ngam, either it does not move stick and stone or it contradicts itself, this done night before Ngam questioned. Adrian
has Ngam. First question asked of Ngam is which sex is witch. Then mention two families, mother's or father's. Then ask which compound? Any compound of family can be In olden days threatened witch with Li medicine.
Robert
's mother of Charles
is the first one to eat guinea-corn in Ian
's family. Her husband was older than Frederick
. Her husband was Conan
.
Adrian
's paternal half sister was a witch. She was Ian
's wife. When threatended with Li medicine she refused to take it, she admitted to having bewitched her brother. Li only given if person says that they are not witch. Some people send wife who admits to being witch away, some don't. You cannot make your brother leave even if he admits to being witch. A member of another family cannot witch you unless one of your family calls him. Woman witches are worse as not ashamed. More people die from being witches or leopards than for other causes. Old people die for nothing, but younger people die for being witches, being betwitched or being Ngui (leopard) Haldane
died as he was witch. If person killed by Li. it was not allowed to perform autopsy.
Gi medicine is one in which small worms are put into wounds to join severed tendons of flesh.
Ian
says that he sent his daughter Sarah
to stay with her mother's kin as no one to bring water for them.
Ian
has two work party Kwurrums.
1. Denzil
, Reuben
, Caspar
, Ezra
, Finlay
, Thor
, Herbert
, Keen
, Ian
. Herbert
is big man of group. Ian
not married when joined.
2. Ron
, Charles
, Graeme
, Lorcan
,Kirk
, Pearson
, V. Zielinski
. Ian
is big man and first to drink in group.
Kwurrums just work farms together, but parties given for fellow Kwurum members even when they don't work farm. Kwurum members are special friends though not sand as BIL.
Wrestling
Wrestling may be done at any time. The day for beer party for Jujus is time for important wrestling. Any man or child can wrestle. A man could challenge man but would not. Songs sung such as: I my father, my father, I in the Juju, is it a rock that throws me on the ground (Person who sings this means that their is no person stronger than him but Jujus. Chorus answers singers each verse with Woooooo, which means nothing. After singer has finished the chorus repeats woooo, until a challenger comes and while the wrestling is in progress, until one man thrown. No challenge should be unanswered. However a person who is injured or not well can go out and sing, and when challenged say that he is sick and cannot wrestle. After one bout, the winner may retire if he is hurt or tired. If someone wants to sing, but does not want to wrestle, the man singing when someone comes to touch his hand must retire and the new man sings. Loser of match may touch hand of winner and remain singing while winner retires. If you lose you should not rechallenge winner, if you do it means that his is vexed and this is bad thing, rematch would not be allowed. It is usually known who best wrestler in hamlet. You avoid wrestling with members of your wifes family, as would be ashamed of throwing them, unless you are in their town. In another town you would not challenge them.
John
says that wrestling success has nothing to do with marriage.
Medicines that give you power to wrestle called Gullup = lion, some Shoa medicines and Dar. Dar is some grass, he doesn't know name, is put inside snake skin or cow skin, skin sewn up and tied on arm. When you wrestle you say Dar and rub skin, this medicine helps you throw opponent. John
has Dar, he got it from distant brother. Paid 6d for it, but returned it when he was baptized. Opponent tries to rip medicine off. Shoa medicine given by Kirk
, a member of J
's mother family. Grass called Libi, Nguimi, Lebir, and Birr (camwood) Yu, are joined together. Both Kirk
and John
held grass. Kirk
says I give you this Shoa medicine you will be heavy like Birr (camwood) I give you this Nguirmi medicine, you will be strong and no one will throw you, I give you this Lebir when men try to lift you, your feet will be like the roots of Lebir and hold fast. I give you this Libi it will help you. Two pieces of Birr (camwood) sharpened and put in hair, saying you will be strong like Birr, other put under right toe nail and cut protruding part off, and says if man picks you up you will be heavy like Birr. Then he took bitter leaf (Yu) and hits John
on shoulders, saying your skin will be bitter and if you throw a man and he comes to bewitch you at night, he will vomit as your skin is so bitter. He then joined Lebir, Libi, Ngwinie, and tied then on J
's right hand and on right foot. Then he spit on J
's hand and said Kissum. After saying Kissum he said you will be stronger than the man who wrestles with you, man's eye will be blinded and he won't see you, and you will throw him, you will be stronger than he, then repeats Kissum. Then takes John
's hand and makes him face East and Kick. John
paid 6d. John
can make it for others. Medicine helped him and made him stronger than before. John
does not have Gullup medicine.
After awhile wrestling is stopped if neither man seems to be winning. Anyone can stop it, this often done so that contestants wont be vexed with each other. Sometimes wrestlers get vexed but don't start real fight.
Dancing and singing slightly competitive but not so much as wrestling.
Best wrestlers given big medicine before Jujus beer party as they will do most wrestling against strangers. Day they start grinding corn for beer party, you must not sleep with any woman if you are going to do serious wrestling. They will cook you soup in new pot. Women can also eat from new pot. You wont eat pepper, wont drink water or beer in new calabash, no European salt, given first part of Fufu. Give medicine very early in the morning so that women will not see. It is made in the bush. You will not sit on chair or let women touch you. Won't drink much corn beer, 2 cups at most. They will buy you meat to eat, and you will not be allowed to eat soup made by women, but meat is cooked by women. Strangers to village need not obey these regulations but will probably have been given medicines. If local champions are beaten, the other town will sing songs when Warwar people come to visit them.
Series of JUJU Feasts by John
.
Mbamga Yambap - Shoa - Vokude - War.
When Vokude people finished they ask people here to make feast for Jujus. Corn beer is made ready. All big Jujus come and dance and go behind fence. There they drink corn beer. When they drink man rings Yung bell, ring it for stopping thieves and witches, Johnson
rings it for Tiker he says if strangers come to make trouble, fight with knives, or spoil guinea-corn Yung should catch them. Jujus dance behind and men shout and blow horns. Johnson
leads them to Foster
compound. Foster
gives him a jug of beer. After corn beer Johnson
blows a Juju and all shout, Jujus dance. Then Johnson
leads them back to his compound. Much corn beer brought. After beer Foster
wrestles Johnson
. Less wrestling now than in the past. Jujus play for three days. The day that they want to make medicine the boys who have not yet seen Juju led behind fence by Johnson
with their eyes covered. Boys carry a small black fish each. Put fish down and go behind fence. Johnson
covers each ones eyes and asks each one whether he has seen Jujus. Boys say Yes three times. Juju shakes all the time. Third day the Jujus beg from women, given fish, salt, meat, argusi, groundnuts. Next day they cook all of this food, all eat it. Johnson
gives Guli grass to people from all over Warwar. Johnson
gives some mud to all who ate food cooked for Jujus, and makes them lick it from their thumb, and he puts some on their chest. Then Jujus go away. Johnson
tells all not to work that day.
When tree falls behind fence in Tiker as happened today, no one from Tiker can work, they asked people from other hamlets not to work and request honoured as far as I could tell. Johnson
says that the reason he wrestled Foster
is that their fathers did this. Doesnt know whether Foster
's father had special medicine or not. This wrestling between the two of them helps guinea-corn grow.
The trees behind fence cannot be touched with knife or rains would fall and winds would spoil crops. Nyena Nyu may be sent for to cut down trees. People shout at them, what are you doing, you must not cut trees but the Nyena Nyu continues. This applies to fenced areas in Ndiel and Tiker.
IAN
ON LAND.
Ian
says all have enough land. Frederick
has most. Rent unknown, after using anothers land you can give them chicken. Usually gets only one farm per person. After using farm for three years you call person who has given it to you and give them beer party. Ian
has three farms he is working this year and 2 that are lying fallow. He bought one behind R.H. near mission. Rest belonged to his father's father.
Ian
on MARRIAGE.
Many pay up to £8. Mothers family takes £6 and returns two. First give big spear and cock. Girl makes corn beer and they made medicine for her called Felip. After £8 brought and £2 send back girl goes. Big chicken feast for girl 14 to 20 12 chickens and one calabash of palm wine given to father of girl. Before girl leaves her own village, Yung bell rung on her head. Husband and his friends help girl's family on farm. If girl runs away, groom can reclaim money and the twelve chickens given to father. If husband sends her back, he cannot claim. If children are born to marriage he does not get all back.
ADRIAN
ON JUJU DINNER.
First people to make beer are Mbalo town behind Mbamga. Mbamga next Yambap, Mverrup, and Gembu do next all on same day. Shoap, behind Vokude does next, then Vokude then Warwar. When Vokude is finished they tell Johnson
and Archibald
(because they have Bel medicine). On next market day big Jujus come and dance in the field at Ndiel, then go behind fence. Behind fence Archibald
brings soft mud and the people there lick with tongue, and then some is put on their chests. First it is given to Jujus and then others. Then Frederick
brings Yung bell. Adrian
talks saying bell will kill witches, the Archibald
talks, actually Archibald
talks first, when they talk Frederick
rings bell. Archibald
and Adrian
bring guli grass, Adrian
s is for Tschuk medicine, Archibald
's for Bel medicine. Jujus dance furiously. All people led by Archibald
go to Ezra
s compound. They sing there and he gives them corn beer. Jujus dance. Archibald
sings a song, then wrestles with Ezra
, this is for medicine. They can go to any compound that they like after Ezra
s, and sing and wrestle. Then go to Tiket. Given mud and grass by Johnson
. Then go to Foster
s compound, given corn beer. Drink. Johnson
sings a song, wrestles with Foster
. Then anyone can wrestle. Jujus then dance. Johnson
leads the to his compound and he and Nyap (t) give them beer. Then many wrestle. Young men wrestle on the dance field. Before both Tiker and Ndiel used to look at Mvur at this stage, but don't anymore. Man who used to do it is dead. They wrestle on Market day and two following days. The evening of third day Jujus come and beg food from women. Tiker Jujus come here to play, but not for medicine.
Ian
's Wives.
First Stephanie
-Dyson
s compound. One child Rosemary
Sleeps at Dyson
s place. Stephanie
left Ian
. he had only given small things, and got them back. If man wants to marry Rosemary
, he will work for Ian
, because Ian
worked farms for Stephanie
's family. If Rosemary
marries Ian
will get cock and spear. Bridewealth will go to Stephanie
's brothers who has same mother as Stephanie
. Dyson
is more distant brother. She only stayed a few months.
Second Beth
. Adrian
's sister. When she heard that Ian
had married Stephanie
she came to Ian
's house. He had daughter with her, but she that is child died at 1 1/2 years. This woman was a witch, she refused to take Li medicine. She married Rathbone
then died. He did not give any cargo for her as he had conceived her in town. She stayed about four months, with him. He worked farms before marrying her. She had been married before.
3rd. Donna
(Christian Name Elizabeth
)
>From Ndarrup. She had been married before. He gave small gifts, but did not give 10 fowl or six hoes. Once child died a boy about three. He worked and will work farm for her family. He gave a fowl and a spear. He paid £1 about a year ago. Also has given 3 fowls, one was cooked and eaten, one was eaten only by Donna
's mother. When he bore Sarah
, he gave a fowl for Mavulup medicine, this done for every child. Either man or woman can make medicine. Just recently he gave fowl and spear. Later he will give £2 and still later £4. Then he will buy a male goat. Kill it, cook it, call all of the big people of her family and his and eat goat. Goat is last thing to be given. He gave five shillings for Joe
and 5 shillings for Shirley
. Won't give anything for Sarah
. Nowadays they sometimes give the father of the bridge a cap and trousers and shirt, cloth for bridge and her mother. Give twenty rings for girl and also £1. When she is about grown groom must give £2. Then oil and ten shillings, and two shillings worth of palm wine. Then takes spear and fowl. The woman comes with her brothers. First night they sleep at the house of one of bride's brothers. Deposit girl at husbands house and go and sleep in other house of compound. Husband gives bride 5 shillings before she agrees to sleep with him. Rub her with camwood. Give 5 shillings when was off camwood. Put on new rings. Give her brothers who have come 3 cooked fowls. Brothers of groom and sisters, lead brothers of bride and her sisters out to the road. After 2 or three weeks bride takes 2 fowls to her father with palm wine. One fowl and wine made to Tschuk medicine. Bring 12 fowls to brides parents. Also now bring £5 or £6 pounds. Kill goat and cook it and brings to meet brides father. Then finished. If child born and lives gives brides parent 5 shillings. Brides parents get all of the bridewealth for one of the daughters.
If you have not given all bridewealth for your wife, you don't get it when your daughter marries. To make marriage legal you give cock and spear. If your wife leaves you, you can either get bridewealth back, keep children but give bridewealth for children to wife's family, or keep the children. Leave the bridewealth with her kin, and when your children marry keep the bridewealth.
Now with the court you can keep children, claim back bridewealth and also keep the bride wealth given for your daughters.
Father of Archibald
and Mvu medicine
Farms often subdivided in inheritance. Strangers cannot buy farms as they may leave town. Garth
given farms by Adrian
and Frederick
. Frederick
gave because Garth
Nyena Nyu and Adrian
gave them because he that is Garth
was Nyena Nyu to Frederick
. If Garth
has sons they will inherit his farms, however he cannot sell them nor can his children. The sons of Frederick
could take farms away if they needed them. People would not take farms away just out of badness as he cooks corn beer and helps others. Strangers are really wanted and not troubled as they make corn beer for all and strengthen village. If Garth
did many bad things, then they might send him away.
Blair
was sent away as he was a witch. Ian
says that Archibald
bought farms from Frederick
's family.
Why Archibald
wrestles with Ezra
?
He says so that others can wrestle. Ezra
's father had Bel medicine and this is why it is done and why they go there. Harold
is oldest son of Theo
but lives too far away, so they go to Ezra
's. Wrestling done so that crops grow well. Foster
and Johnson
wrestle for same reason.
Archibald
gives people mud so that no one gets sick, Jujus carry so much medicine with them, if you don't take mud and watch them playing you will get sick, your eyes would turn, that is you would get dizzy.
Jujus go to Tiket because their fathers before them did this. If it rains only one goes, if no rain all go. Big Jujus of Tiket don't come here, medicine of Tiket has no more power. Shoas from Tigul come to Ndiel, those from Tscharl to Tiket.
Yung Bell - Harold
, Gregory
, Rodney
, Archibald
Those with yung medicine - Frederick
, Harold
, Nathan
May 28th Adrian
says.
Knows God made the world, made Mambilas, chickens, Europeans and all things. He does not know whether God is still working or not. They pray to Gods for crops and hunting and to avoid illness, but he doesn't know whether this is to ancestors or Big God.
Harold
says.
Yung medicine was given him by his father's father. Given to him and father at same time. Father's father was given one chicken to eat then and later more chickens and hoes. Cadogan
s marital history.
His present wife had three previous husbands, 1 Fulani husband, one Mambila from French side and Cadogan
. One daughter with man from the French side.
Cadogan
has had four wives and no children.
Yvette
- Fulani woman no children
Sally
" " " "
Virginia
" " " "
He grew up in Banyo and came back to Warwar very late. Fulani captured his father. He followed his father later. His father had a Fulani wife. She had 3 children, one daughter married Emir of Banyo, father got no bridewealth.
When English pushed Germans out of Banyo they told all strangers to go back where they came from. Later he returned to Warwar.
Archibald
s wife Dorra
{sic}. Had had only one spouse. 4 children died four are alive. One girl married at Mverrup, also another girl married there. One girl here and also Thor
. One girl died at the time of her marriage, one son at 17, one son at seven and one at two.
Theobald
's wife has only been married to him. No children
Nyap's wife
Nyaps wife has not been married before. Madam's only child.
Frederick
s marital history.
First married Denise
(Tiker-Cecil
's sister) Her brother used her in exchange and took her away. At this time she had a little boy still being carried. Lance
had not exchange for her.
Gabriella
from Yambap. One son and a daughter. Son dead, girl married at Mbamga. This was exchange. They broke exchange and Frederick
took his sister back. Exchange broken because Frederick
's sister did not want to stay with man at Yambap. Did not get any of his daughter's bridewealth.
Anthea
- Vokude. One daughter about six when she left him for other man. Not Exchange. He got no bridewealth back.
Chantal
from Ndiel Adrian
's family. One son about three, when she left Frederick
. Not exchange.
Sandra
from Yambap. 3 children two died. Daughter is married at Ndarrup. Woman left Frederick
, he neither got his bridewealth back or anything when girl married.
Gerard
from Yambap. 2 children both died. Exchange. He gave his real sister.
Graeme
married Fiona
. 2 children died, both males one at 3 and one at one year.
Graeme
had previously wed Moira
from Mbamga. They had son who now lives in Mbamga. She left him and married in Mbamga and died. He gave £1 6sh. 6 chicken, cock and spear. Father made her leave him. Got nothing back. Hopes to marry Moira
's sister.
At Ian
s communal farming. To build mounds.
Garth
, Irving
, Neal
, Warren
, Graeme
, Crystal
(Ian
sister was only woman)
Samuel Zielinski
's sister took sasswood three times and lived. Sisters name was Katie
. Len
gave Li to her. Len
lived in Tscharl
In Warwar dialect: Kas = district
Gunduma = village
Unguwe = hamlet
Le Commandant of Banyo J. Sablayrolle had census made of Mambila on French side.
Total figures
March 1948
1,676 1945
2,125
1950
2,870
Fertilizer tree used by Mambila is called Karu by Fulani is a kind of pigeon pea.
"Les Sauvages D'Afrique" by Maurice Briault 1943 Payot
pg 198 "Cameroun L'Aruspice du Ngam. Ngam est le nom utilise par les Basas.
These notes taken early.
Samuel Zielinski
on chieftainship.
He was chief for over five years. Johnson
asked him to be chief, Don Lawan made him chief, Mr. Moore was D.O. at time.
Kassala from Ndarrup took complaint to Mallam Taffi at Mbamga. He told M. Taffi to report Samuel
to D.O. Kassala's name was Ira
, who is still Kassala, Kassala from Mverrup also complained. Samuel Zielinski
went to salute Don Lawan, Alkali told him to stay as case was coming up. Ndarrup and Mverrup people came and case judged. Samuel
returned money that he had taken to Alkali who returned it to the people of Ndarrup and Mverrup. Samuel
sentenced to six months in prison by Alkali, he served the sentence.
The grounds for complaint according to Samuel
.
Mr Schneider was missionary at Warwar. He needed carriers to go. Samuel
asked Ndarrup to send 3 carriers they did not come. Schneider goes to U.S., when he returns he needs more carriers. Samuel
asks for 20 from Ndarrup, 20 from Mverrup and 20 from Warwar. All came from Warwar, only 12 from Ndarrup and none from Mverrup. When Schneider learned this he said that he would have them put in prison. Headman from Mission went to talk to Alkali at Mbamga, explained the situation and the latter told him to summons Ndarrup and Mverrup people. These feared and asked Samuel
to stop the case. Samuel
said that Ndarrup and Mverrup people must give him money to buy horse. Samuel
said that he would help them in many cases, but could not in this case. Ndarrup and Mverrup people held meeting insisted that he help them in this one and collected money for horse. Ndarrup gave £9. Mverrup gave £7.15sh. Warwar gave nothing. Horse not bought. Money given so case would be stopped so he stopped it. The Alkali stopped it, but was not bribed.
Previously there had already been a case of bribery. A sanitary inspector named Mervin
came to vaccinate people. He called Warwar Ndarrup and Mverrup people, that is JSamuel
called them. Inspector says all should keep compound clean. Sees Ndarrup people with dirty compound, says will call them to Gembu. Mervin
given £6 as bribe. Alkali heard of this and sent police for Samuel
and Mervin
, he took the £6, and Alkali said no one to be bribed again. This was joined on to above case against Samuel
.
Samuel Zielinski
discusses other things.
Elton
is older brother of Samuel
. (I believe that this is woman palaver that S
. brought to me. Alice
is the woman in question. She had married to a man at Kilatin a man called Eli
. Eli
drove Alice
away and kept children, did not ask for bridewealth to be returned. Alice
took a fowls from Eli
, who reported the theft to Mbamga court, and asked for the fowl back. Alice
had brought the fowls to Warwar. She was already married to Elton
. She brought fowls to Mbamga.Court took fowls from her and fined her £1. Fowls given to Eli
. Zebedee
her real brother from Tiker paid the fine. They fined Elton
£2, Samuel
says for nothing, but court because he took woman. When they returned to Warwar Alice
did not go to Elton
, but went back to her brother. Mallam Taffi was in charge of the court. The Yerima of Vokude asked Elton
for the £2. He is acting chief of Vokude as the chief is blind. Elton
said why should he pay money as he does not have woman. Alice
went back to Eli
who did not want her. She then lived with Kirk
, Eli
s brother. Elton
had had child with Alice
, whose name is Lynn
a boy. The son became ill so Alice
brought him back to Warwar and asked Elton
to make medicine for it. His father Phillip
made the medicine called Bohublur medicine, Johnson
also made Lur medicine for it. The Yerima of Vokude said that he had paid the fine of £2. and that is why he wanted Elton
to pay him. Elton
was not sure that he had paid, but Yerima kept after him and finally he paid. Alice
is now married in Vokude. She has the son. Elton
wants the woman and the child, Alice
says that she does not wish to come back.
Name Giving.
My real older brother is the one who names my child, usually that of a deceased ancestor. My older sister can also do it. Father and or mother also give a name. The latter three can give additional names to that given by brother or instead of him. Mother's family always gives a name of its own, usually this done by mo's father. Older brother usually gives the name of a member of kin group who has recently died, it may be the name of the father of the child if he has recently died. Mother's family cannot call you by name given by father's group, nor can they give you a name of recently dead member of kin group. If you like the name of a person not of your kin group you can give it to your junior bro. Child, even if they live in same hamlet. But you can't give the name of a kinsman if he is still alive, also can't give name of male ancestor to a girl. Many names given only to females and others to males. Mother's family must give a good name.
Your child must begin crawl before being given a name. The child is brought along with a rat to the person who is to name. The namer blesses child by spitting on his stomach. both mother and father come to ceremony as well as others from father's group. The rat is used as payment, this is the only name paid for, other names given for nothing. Name can be given on any day but market day.
As Frederick
had exchanged his sister for his wife therefore his wife names Joe
, Ian
's son in place of Frederick
himself. If she had married with bridewealth, then she could not have done this. If a name of the patrilineal group is chosen must give fowl to older kin. Ian
's mother named Sara
. Rat given. She could have chosen name from among her maternal kin. Only give name of patrilineal kin to brother's children not sister's children.
Tooth Chipping.
This is done about adolescence. Ibrahim
did it for John
. If one cries they laugh at you, if you don't have it done girls will laugh at you. It is called Ngegeli
Dispute April 24th at Night.
The man from Tscharl is called Murray
. The Man from Dembe John
does not know name. Man from Dembe was drunk, he forced his way into a house where there were two women. Women asked who he was, he did not answer. They asked several times he wouldn't say anything. They shouted and Murray
came. Women told him to hold man until fire brought. and they could see who he was. Murray
said that when he came in door almost entirely shut, so he thought that man inside was a witch. When he came in he said, "if you be witch, I be witch too, and if you be man, whatever kind of medicine you have, I have it also. He then held the man and the women brought fire and saw man. Murray
hit the man with his hand, then took him out and him four times with his cutlass. He cut the string that held his loincloth and those on his head and string that holds knife. They took all that he had away. Man ran away. Brought all of the things to Frederick
s compound and gave them to him. Frederick
asked Murray
what had happened in the house and he explained. Man said that he was drunk and was looking for a place to sleep. He claimed that he answered women and stood just inside the door. Frederick
told Murray
that he should have called Dyson
as he is the big man of the area. They asked the man from Dembe to swear on the bell that he had not fornicated with the women. He swore that he had gone into the house with Man's skin not medicine or witches. They asked Murray
to swear bell as he had accused other of witchcraft, by saying that if he was a witch so was he. Murray
swore that he went in in answer to woman's cry and went in as a man, and he also said while drinking bell that he had seen the man as a man and not a witch or using medicine. Previously Murray
had said that he had seen man using witch medicine. When the man heard Murray
swearing to bell he started to go off to Gembu to charge him with having previously lied. Frederick
s wife stopped him. Long discussion. Finally Murray
took the man into the bush alone and is said to have apologised and agreed to pay pound after Frederick
said that he should and also a fowl.
Inheritance.
V. Zielinski
says if Archibald
dies Thor
will get his cargo, if Ian
Parker
dies Clifford
and V. Zielinski
will get cargo, If Frederick
dies, Aylmer
, Mbon and Petros
will get cargo. John
says if Frederick
dies Langley
will get some cargo as Flora
was Frederick
s sister and was married by Exchange.
Adrian
says his MEMIN is Caspar
, Nathan
, Robin
, Clint
, Finlay
, Dyson
, Gregory
, Rodney
, Cadogan
, Harold
. He says Archibald
not MEMIN but of MAN.
Frederick
says his MEMIN: Charles
, Mallam Taffi, Ron
, Rupert
(Kabri) Garth
, Martin
, Petros
, Alwyn
Frederick
says Ian
's Memin is Andrei
, Craig
, Parker
,Lucas
, Clifford
, Clint
, Irving
, Lyndon
(Kara)
Clifford
says: Andrei
, Craig
, Parker
, Lucas
, Clifford
, Clint
, Irving
, and Lyndon
(Kara) are his Memin
Clint
says if he died Rathbone
would divide the cargo. Bryce
of Tscharl would get a part as his father came from Bryce
's group. His mother from Adrian
's family. Nyap says that if he died, Roland
and Neal
would inherit, if Roland
died he and Neal
would inherit, if Neal
died he and Roland
would inherit.
John
says that Elton
will get most of Johnson
's cargo.
Johnson
says that Elton
, Nyap (T) Marcus
, Zielinski
and Ibrahim
all of one MEMIN.
Cahill
says, Cahill
, Cecil
, Diarmuid
, Meiron
(farms), Jem
(farms) Jeremy
(farms) all one Memin.
Cahill
says Hal
, Percy
, Haldane
, Jarod
(Percy
s sibling) are one Memin of Man Neil
.
Pearson
and Lorcan
of one Memin also.
Hugo
says: Nevin
, Ned
, Soames
, Ridley
, Douglas
, Ritchie
, Bartlett
, Hugo
, Gilmour
, Xavier
, Craig
, Henry
, Jason
, Quentin
, Karel
, are of his MEMIN, also Eric
(Gembu) and Tarrant
and Taggart
of Vokude. Eric
s mother from Memin. Tarrant
father from Memin Taggart
's mother from Memin. Mother of Eric
was Jon
s sibling. Andrea
father was Eric
, Taggart
s mother was daughter of Ned
.
Deverell
says He, Winston
and Willard
share in each others cargo.
Nyap says if he dies, Clint
,Marcus
, Elton
, Joshua
, Johnson
, Ibrahim
, Dudley
, Kingsley
, Knox
, Kennedy
are of his Memin. Dudley
and Kingsley
sleep on farms.
Paul Gebauer's Data on Missionaries in Warwar.
Gebauer's visit to Mambila before 1934 cannot be recorded as they were illegal. Came along with German missionaries.
1937 First official tour and twice each year afterwards, sometimes more often.
1938 Dunger, G. first tour.
1939 Dungers settle at Warwar to be interrupted during war years, 1941-45
1940 Miss Koppin nursing sister settles.
1944-5-6, Mr and Mrs. Earl Ahrens and Miss Hilda Tobert, Canadian.
1947-51 Schneider
1953 K Goodman and wife
In 1929 Rev A. Orthner from Detroit Michigan crossed into Mambila are from Mbaw area, twice in 1930 then 1931, 32. Rev J. Sieber (Wute expert) visited occasionally.
From Johnson
May 29
Johnson
was vexed because people from Ndiel had told me things about Tiket, and this was reason he did not want to talk to me.
He got Yung medicine from his father when he was still small. He does not know where it came from.
He got Bell medicine (called Gir at Tiker) from an older male kinsman called Anthony
.
It was given to him as he was oldest male of group.
Yung medicine Taboos. The day before he makes medicine he must be given first part of the food that is prepared in his compound. His soup must be served in new pots. He eats no European salt the day before either, cannot sleep with wife night before, no peppers can he eat. For Bell medicine taboos are the same.
Wrestling with Foster
is not for medicine, he does this and sings songs as an announcement that everyone can now wrestle.
Ndiel people come to Tiket when he makes his Bell medicine to benefit from it, as his stronger than theirs, he doesn't know why his strongest. Yung medicine he has given to Nyap. Gir to Karel
, Ibrahim
,Oliver
, Sacheverell
, Ned
, Marcus
, Elton
, Bartlett
and Hugo
. He doesn't know who made the world, but said maybe it was Tschang. He says the dead people are called Maku. They know little about Tschang and during some of the conversation it seemed almost as if he were speaking of a high God. They never ask this Tschang for help as know nothing of him.
Incest. Johnson
says if man marries or sleeps with his sister both will get sick. Johnson
doesn't know who were first to come to Tiker, where they came from or who were first to come to Warwar.
Mbon, who sleeps in Frederick
s compound says.
His Ya (girl friend) slept at Robin
s compound, she was Georgie
s sister Denzil
. He gave ten rings, The girls said that they were all old ones and told him to get new ones. He got no new ones. and she took none. Gave her meat and small carrying basket. Worked farms for her mother and father many
times.They gave him nothing in return. She was about Pippa
, Clint
's daughter when she died. He was given nothing, she died last year.
Neal
has a girl but hasn't given her anything, her name is Celia
and she sleeps near Ian
's compound.
Nyaps marriage
He gave cock and a spear. One chicken to make Tschuk medicine. 2 chickens when Madams born 13 shillings, gave mother one fowl, gave Mavis
s older sisters 5 shillings. Planted guinea-corn with her parents twice and weeded twice, he did this work for Adrian
not for her parents. Worked only once for her parents. He must eventually give £5 10 sh. + 3 sh.
Nathan
's wives:
Barbara
(Colin
's mother) came from Warwar. Had the following children with her.
1. Kathleen
a girl now 16 sleeps in compound.
2. Maria
girl died about 3
3. Maria
girl died about 2
4. no name male child died in arms.
5. " " " " " " "
6. " " female " " " "
Barbara
died in this compound married to him.
Flora
is his present wife (Frederick
's sister) have no children.
Adrian
s marital history
Julia
born in Tscharl Married for bridewealth, she left him married in Tiket and died there.
With her had: Denzil
, Sonia
a girl married at Tigul, and a girl married at Gembu after bearing 2 children.
2nd Wife Sharon
from Vokude. Had a girl Mandy
who is married at Gembu. This was bridewealth She left him and went to die at Vokude, no bridewealth back.
3rd Wife, Samantha
exchange from Vokude. She died bearing a son her first. He did not take his sister back, but they gave him a daughter of his sister. This girl is about to be married.
4th Wife. Sacha
from Mbamga Exchange. Died while bearing a child which also died. They promised him a girl but not given yet.
5. Eileen
from Kumver. Had a daughter whose name he forgot. She is married at Gembu. He got bridewealth. His marriage to Eileen
was Bridewealth.
6. Laura
from Gembu. Children Lemuel
, son, another son died very tiny. This was bridewealth marriage, Laura
died here.
7. Danielle
from Mang. No children no exchange left him and returned to Mang.
8. Stephanie
from Lemin, no children no exchange.
Dougal
from Adrian
compound.
Married Joanne
from Ndiel who was Eugene
's daughter.
A son died in arms. Conceived another but Joanne
went off to Titon to get married. He thinks that the child who is Beverley
should be his. Not exchange marriage got no cargo.
2nd wife. Marilyn
(Mang) He bore seven children with her. 5 died, 4 boys and a girl. 2 sons alive: Greg
sleeping here and Rosie
who is living with Marilyn
s father. Marilyn
died here.
3rd wife. Beatrice
(Tscharl) No children, bridewealth, she left to marry at Mang. He got all of his bridewealth back
4. Myra
(Mverrup) not exchange. one daughter died in arms, one son at about a year and a half, and another son in arms. Belinda
a daughter is now three. Marriage still exists.
5. Adrienne
(Gembu) not exchange. One son 3 lives here one son died in arms. She left him and married away. He got his cargo back and kept child.
6. Deborah
from Yambap not exchange, no children she is still here.
Dougal
says that the reason wives often leave is that husband brings back a new wife.
Jake
from Brett
s compound known as Marvin
.
Has been married to wife Petra
for two years, this is his first wife. Has a son about two months old.
Finlay
Marital history.
His wife born in Kabri. She was not married before. Been married about 4 1/2 years. No children not exchange. Bridewealth. She knows that 1 cock and one spear paid and doesn't know what else. He gave her no rings nor no baskets, but gave her cloth. When she married him he lived in Dorofe.
June 1. Ian
says.
Adrian
and Frederick
gave Garth
farms.
Herbert
given farms by Ian
and Frederick
. He did not give Ian
Tschor Halemi as Dorothy
's father's mother came from Ndiel. She was from Frederick
's family. Father of Dorothy
's father came from Tiker. Her mother came from Mbamga. Dorothy
returned to Ndiel after first marrying away as in the past one of the children of marriage was given to the mothers family. Usually give girl child but can give male if no girls. They give a girl, even if she is the only one and rest boys as men are strong and would want to return to their father's. Herbert
gives Ian
no food for use of farm. It is hard to live in wife's town as she would not agree to your getting new wife. When Dorothy
's real brother died, Lyndon
, they said that she had to come back and live in his compound.
People sometimes move compound because they are hounded by illness either to themselves or chickens. Big reason to move is illness. Some people sleep in isolated compound through fear of witches. Oldest son usually builds own compound, younger stays in old compound. If only one son he should stay. This is to help father when old. There is lots of pressure brought to bear so that at least one son stays with father, usually youngest.
Fights between
Man
according to Ian
.
Last fight. Roland
put Clifford
's cloth in the mud. Clifford
hit Roland
. Big discussion, Rolf
and Nyap wanted to fight Frederick
's family. Adrian
and Frederick
stopped them from doing this. No payment made. In these case only fight with walking sticks, no spears.
Shaming songs usually sung to neighbouring hamlets, but may do so also to other Man from same hamlet but not so much or so violent. Now they are singing song to man in Tiket who slept with his son's wife, this is Hal
. Hal
married Adrian
's sister. They found out when the children got sick and woman admitted. Hal
's child is Irving
. He had long argument. In olden days the son might have killed father, in this Irving
just threatened his father.
It is not too bad if younger brother uses older brothers woman. However he must give fowl to make Sho medicine, its bad but not too bad. It is very bad, much worse if older brother uses younger brothers wife.
Sometimes Man in one hamlets will fight. In very old times might use shields and spears, but not now. Now usually don't fight at all, usually sit down and discuss. These fights mainly about farms.
Nyap of Ndiel's marital history.
Married first Judy
(Charles
's sister from Ndiel.)
She conceived when still at mother's house. It was miscarriage. She left Nyap to marry Neil
, Cecil
s son, had a child there. She says that the child is Nyaps. He gave to her family: Worked on their farms, gave salt, meat oil. Gave spear and cock. Did not give goat. He started when Judy
was small. They gave him £3 back. Some people said that he should summons them but as both from same village, he did not want to. They said that Nyap was sterile which vexed him very much. Her mother made her leave him, because she did not conceive with him. She stayed one year. While Judy
still there he wanted to marry Mavis
so he was not too vexed when she left. He was already trying Mavis
.
Neal
is beginning to try Celia
, and is beginning to work farm for Celia
s mother. Gave her meat and salt.
Charlie
s father drove her mother and Charlie
away. When she was sick he refused to make medicine, and never gave anything for the mother. Now the father wants her back but Nyap refuses. Simon
has not given Charlie
or Nyap anything as yet.
Clifford
s marital history.
Sybil
from Kabri. Three sons died in arms, one daughter 3 sleeps here and one son 18 mos also.
Victoria
, Yambap, second wife. One son one year lives here.
Apparently the two wives have had many disputes. First Sybil
went home to Kabri for a long time, when she returned Victoria
went to Yambap to stay.
Clifford
says.
he plants small field of guinea-corn after Adrian
at planting time. Griffith
's father Gawain
, gave him the Tschuk medicine which makes him do this. He gave his father a god in return which was killed and eaten. His father showed a number of people, but they decided to let Clifford
do it, as when he used it the guinea-corn grew well, if things had gone badly they would have made someone else do it. Duncan
tried first but guinea-corn did not grow well. Davey
tried next, but elephants and rats ruined some of the crop. Then Clifford
tried and it worked well. Tschuk also makes people marry. Adrian
's Tschuk is stronger as he uses Juju, while Clifford
only uses grass. If Clifford
learned Adrian
's Tschuk he could not marry into Adrian
's family, this is why he doesn't learn Adrian
s. (Adrian
later denied this). Adrian
's Tschuk helps all of the hamlet even all in the village. This is true of all peoples Tschuk. Clifford
says that he can sell his medicine for £2.
Andrei
Marital history.
1. Anita
. He gave £2. 10 sh, 1 cock and 1 spear, £2 to mother. He got nothing back. Had a daughter Lucy
who is now three years old. When Anita
died he sent her to Yambap, and only recently called her back. Anita
died in Yambap, but had not left Andrei
. She just went there to have medicine made.
2. Edna
(Henry
's sister Tiker)
Edna
has conceived but it was a miscarriage. She is still here. Andrei
was living in Mverrup when he married her, and he got vexed with at this time with his mother's family as they did not help him with bridewealth. This is why he came back to Warwar. Edna
had first been married with Manley
of Dyson
's compound. Manley
is now vexed with Andrei
. Andy
gave £1 10 sh to Henry
, he has to give £2 more. Manley
has said that is Andrei
and Edna
bear fine pikins he will take Andrei
to court to get his money back that is the bridewealth that he paid.
Archibald
's Marital History.
1. Candida
Gembu not exchanged. Three sons, one died about 12, one about 8 and one at 6. They would have been about Ian
's age. She died here still married.
2. Forgot her name but came from Gembu, not exchange. No children she left him.
3. Delia
Garth
s sister Gembu not exchange. No children she died here.
4. Forgot her name from Mverrup. Had son Conor
who now lives at Lemme with his mother's kin. He is married. She left him.
5. Louisa
from Ferdinand
. Not exchange. She still with Archibald
. Has a daughter Madeleine
. who lives here.
6. Dora
, from Tscharl exchange.
1. Son Thor
. 2. Daughter Suzette
. 3. Daughter Gwen
. 4. Daughter Liza
married at Mverup. 5. daughter Betty
married at Mverrup. 5, 6, 7, 8, three sons one died at 17, one at 5 and one at 3.
Thor
's marital history.
Jean
Gembu not exchange. Has a son and had daughter who died at 7. She left him. They gave him bridewealth back, but he returned it as he thought keeping it was bad.
Amy
Gembu. They paid debt with her. One of his sisters bore a child and they took that girl and kept her to help them, she later married there. They gave Amy
as return. She is still there. Has a son and a daughter.
Brett
's marital History.
Married Pamela
from Tscharl, Obidiah
's sister not exchange. Is still there. She bore two sons and two daughters all died in arms.
Langley
says that he has no girl friend.
Archibald
says that he gave Bel medicine to Harold
as his father had it and died. He also gave it to Neville
, Adrian
, Gregory
, Rodney
and Thor
. They cannot use it while he is still alive.
Clint
s Marital History.
1. He doesn't remember her name from Ninge. No exchange, no children. He did not like her so sent her away.
2. She died so he doesn't want to tell her name or he might dream about her. Came from Tamnyar. One son died in arms. She died in Tamnyar where she went to have medicine made.
3. Wendy
from Tigul had a daughter Kate
who is married in Tigul and a son who died in arms. She went and married in Ngubin. Left him because she was ill here.
4. Joyce
Tiker.Son Simon
, daughter Pippa
16, daughter Nancy
who sleeps here. Three daughters and two sons who died in arms. She died here.
5. Lucy
from Mverrup. No children no exchange. She was vexed with Meg
his other wife and wanted to send her away, so he sent her away instead.
6. Meg
from Mverrup. No children still here.
Gunter
from Dyson
's compounds marries Alun
from Tscharl. This is girl we saw bringing firewood.
Lonnie
from Clint
s compound has no Ya.
Meg
(NdunYa's wife) marital History. Has passed menopause.
First married to Michael
in Gembu. Had two sons, one is Wilmot
at Mverrup and one Lonnie
sleeps here. When Michael
died she came here. Had three sons and one daughter with Michael
, all died in arms.
Alise
Simon
's wife has not been married before.
Penelope
Simon
's sister. Has a boy friend in Mverrup. His name is Pete
. Has given nothing, but worked farm many times for Clint
.
Sybil
(Clifford
s wife has not been married before.
Gregory
's marital history
1. Rosalind
from Ferdinand
not exchange. Had a son and daughter who died in arms. and one daughter Lydia
married in Mverrup. Rosalind
left Gregory
and married in Vokude. Her brother made her leave.
Kitty
Tigul not exchange.
One daughter Dawn
married at Tiker to Jeremy
. another daughter Lois
is helping Dawn
with her children. Three daughters died in arms as did two sons.
Reuben
's Marital History. Rodney
s compound.
Married Kathie
from Vokude not exchange. A son and a daughter died in arms. I believe that one son still alive. She is still here that is the wife.
Charles
's marital History.
1. Maureen
- Gembu no exchange. A son died in arms a daughter at age of three. Maureen
died here in the compound.
2. Ruby
Kara no exchange. One son died at three. She left Charles
, as her mother did not want her to stay, he doesn't know why. No cargo returned he did not want it.
3. Charlotte
Kabri no exchange. One son died in arms one son still living Dougie
. She left him because she did not like him. He did not take back cargo as child sleeps here.
4. Alma
Yambap no exchange. Has son Evan
who sleeps here, as does Alma
.
5. Connie
-Herbert
s sister not exchange. Has son James
and she still here.
Ezra
's marital history.
1. Kerry
Gembu not exchange. No children. Left him. Her father was very old and Gembu to him was very far. He gave no cargo as father did not want it.
2. Christine
Vokude not exchange.
A daughter died in arms. She left him as her brothers wanted to use her exchange. He did not ask for cargo back.
3. Tate Mbamga. Had six daughters all died in arms except one at 3 years. 2 sons, one died at birth and one at one year.
Hester
(Caspar
's wife) marital history.
1. Hugo
bridewealth. Two daughters who died in arms. Her brothers told her to leave him as they wanted to exchange her. She agreed as did not like Hugo
2. Ronnie
Tigul Exchange. Two sons both sleep here. When Ronnie
died she married.
3.Caspar
Ronnie
's brother.
Flora
(Nathan
's wife) marital history.
Ambrose
- Nathan
's brother - not exchange.
1. Kay
daughter 16 now
2. Langley
son 18 now
3. Andrea
daughter married now
4. Son died at 18. 5 daughter died married. 6.7. daughters died in arms. 8 daughter died about eight and 9. daughter died at about six. When Ambrose
died she married 2 Nathan
. No children
XXXe and Kathleen
have no ya so they say.
Pamela
Brett
's wife says that they have had four children all are dead.
Ngui medicine described by holder a man from Vokude.
He bought the medicine from Yang people who are Kaka people. Paid £1, 10 fowls and a goat. They taught him in three days.
When men turn into tigers and are hurt either by falling or being hunted he cures them. He takes heart out of chicken and puts chicken heart into wounded mans heart. That is he puts the heart on the wounded man's breast, if man to die heart won't enter, if he is to get better heart goes in. He does not see heart go in. Then he takes net and puts in on mans body and ties it around the man with a string. When medicine made patient must not drink corn beer, when man recovers the medicine man must come and give him a sip of beer so that now he can drink it. If heart of chicken does not make medicine as XXX person will die anyway. If you want you can stop yourself from turning into an Ngui. He cannot tell by looking at people whether they have this power. Has had the medicine for two years. In some cases he tried the heart did not go in, in others it did. Makes same medicine for those who have been bewitched. They should pay a spear, chicken, old hoe and six or seven shillings for this treatment either if they are those turning into Ngui or bewitched.
XXX(Ron
?)'s Marital History.
1. Patricia
Tigul When she conceived she left him Pikin died in arms it was boy. Not exchange.
2. Monica
Ndiel no exchange. no child, she left him.
3. Melanie
Tiket had a daughter who died in arms. Not exchange. Left Ron
and married Ndarrup, she did not like Ron
anymore.
4. Jessica
Yambap. No exchange, no children, still here.
XXXefa has only had his present wife. He lived in Dorofe with his brother, not real brother. His mother's mother and man's mother had same father and mother, Jonty
was man's name. But he decided to come back to his father's compound.
XXX(Kitty
?)'s marital history (Gregory
s wife)
Stewart
Gembu one son died at one year and a daughter who is married. Not exchange. Her brothers did not want her to stay with Stewart
so she left. They had plan to exchange her.
Arthur
Kabri. Exchange. She did not want to stay with him as he was old man. She broke {exchange}. Arthur
took his sister back.
Gregory
not exchange.
XXXve (Dougal
's wife) marital history
XXXfang Gembu Had a daughter five. She left him as he treated her badly not giving her XXXings.
Then married Dougal
XXX(Rodney
?)s Marital History.
XXXonve Mverrup Had a daughter who is married in Mverrup. She left him and died almost at once He had not given much as her family wanted to exchange her. They took her away to XXXh. When his daughter married he got a chicken to make Tschik medicine.
XXX. Adele
Kabri, Had Abraham
, Jude
, Baines
and Webster
who are all here. Also 2 sons and three daughters who died in arms. She is still here, not exchange.
XXX. Betsy
Tscharl. Had one miscarriage. Not exchange. Her brothers took her back to exchange.
XXX. Joan
Dorofi. One daughter died in arms. This was exchange. Her brothers took her back and he took sister of his back. Her older brother took her back, because the man who had gotten a bride in exchange for her was bad to his older brothers, so he called her back, knowing that Rodney
would call back his sister and thus the bad person would lose his wife.
Rathbone
on Guinea-corn and Market.
Rathbone
went to market to ring bell, to stop people from bringing guinea-corn to Gembu. Fulani people are making trouble at the market there so he hopes by stopping supply to reform them. Also this done to keep guinea-corn for mission labourers. Also to stop local people from settling at Gembu and hence build up local market. This new rule only operative until see how maize grows. Price of guinea-corn same in Gembu as here 4 pound approx for one shilling. Applies to corn and guinea-corn only. He though about it and then consulted Kassalas. They said that it was his affair and that he could do as he liked. One reason that he rang bell was to stop young people from bringing their food out to Fulani camps and sell it there which older people could not do, therefore young got money and old don't. If law broken person would get sick. He would bring cock to Rathbone
who would call Kassalas and they would sacrifice it and eat it and then the bell would be rung over person who broke law. The new rule does not apply to any market but Gembu which was big drain on local market. They can now bring food to Gembu market on any day but Warwar market day.
Dyson
's Marital History.
H embu {sic} Yambap. Not exchange no children. Left him for another man at Vokude. Her brother took her to exchange.
Margaret
Dorofi No children no exchange . Her brother wanted to exchange her
Jane
-Gembu one daughter died in arms. No exchange, her brothers wanted to exchange her, they asked him for sister to make exchange, but he did not have one.
Jenny
Tscharl not exchange.
Three sons here, 2 daughters here. 2 daughters died in arms, one daughter died at 2, and one daughter died at four, another died at five and one at six.
Gwen
Vokude Exchange.
One daughter Bridget
at 4. One daughter Rebecca
3, one daughter Josie
2, Gwen
daughter 18 getting married, another daughter 16. 2 daughters died in arms, one daughter died at 8 and one son died a 2.
When Gwen
's marriage arranged they gave him cock and spear. They worked farm. He will give cock and spear to his son. Gunter
says that she will get nothing until Gwen
has children. Her husband gave her forty new rings, but did not buy beer for her. This is her first marriage. She is having her hair fixed in small knots. Anyone who knows how can do this and will be paid five shillings for the work by grooms group. They are to make special chair for her. Isaac
will make it. Her spouse will pay ten shillings for it. Gwen
says that Dyson
is her first husband. Jenny
says Dyson
is first husband. Kerry
is Violet
's first husband.
Isaac
of Dyson
compound.
Only has one wife Nora
from Ndarrup. Not exchange.
Isaac
gave Catriona
(girl at Ezra
s compound who has his illegitimate daughter-) meat, salt. Worked farm for her mother. Gave her 20 rings. He will marry her, when child able to walk. Wants to marry her as soon as he can.
Francesca
(Dyson
s compound.)
First wife. Miranda
Yambap. A son died day of birth a daughter died in arms. She left him because she was always sick. He got nothing back, but didn't ask for anything as he said if he had the would have been vexed with him. He had given about £5.
Natalie
Tiket (Wayne
's sister.)
Her first marriage. No children yet.
MARRIAGE
Marriage = Yila
Elopment = Bvul shieni
If the parents of a girl don't agree to a man marrying their daughter, the pair may run away. They very often try and hide in Warwar. They hide for about a week or two, and if the parents don't seem to be angry they go back to his compound together. When they get to his compound, the wife and the big man from his family go to brides compound and offer cock and spear. The girls parents usually are either angry or feign anger while the boys relatives counsel moderation. The father of the girl takes the cock and the spear. The relatives of the brides family also counsel moderation. Shoa medicine is made. Brothers of the bride and the father will tell how much must be paid, the sum is usually more in the case of an elopment. Often much bargaining at this point.
If parents find couple in flight, they beat the girl. Usually the elopers arrange a tryst. If parents are adamant they may ring the bell for the girl, but this rarely done
Female Abduction. Sometimes the family wants the girl to marry a man that she doesn't wish to. The father may send for grooms group to come and take her, by force if necessary. They ring the bell saying Juju will get her if she tries to escape. This happened less than ten years ago Xavier
is the husband Margaret
is the woman that they took by force. Margaret
is daughter of Cecil
.
Artie
from Mbamga sleeps in Frederick
s compound. Frederick
s wife is his real sister. He is sick and this is why he has come, doesnt know how long will stay.
Bride Price = Tara Fulani word sometimes used here. By John
Usually bride price not paid until children born. Bride price should be given to girl who passes it onto her parents, but they give it back saying "Nyena sam sede ya wen" "No children I wont eat money" It is only usually paid when children are born to couple. Seems to be about £5.
If bride has real brother he usually gets bridewealth, that is it given to bridge's father who gives it to brother. Father may give some to his brothers and gives a pound to the girls mother. The groom gives a pound and cloth to the mother. John
gave this before cock and spear but not all do this. The spear is a special long one.
Before the court period groom did not get his money back in case of divorce.
SEDUCTION
Even before courts they used to pay five goats for seducing wife of exchange marriage. The husband gets the goats. Your family will help you to pay. The woman confesses when she gets sick. It is only if woman wants to stay with her husband that five goats paid. When the five goats given, the bell rung over husband and wife. Big ant can also tell about seduction. If woman gives wrong name of seducer you can have woman take sasswood. If woman doesn't die then accused has to pay. Nowadays they would go to court and use bell. Guilty party pays as he fears bell. If you sleep with wife of someone in your family you only give chickens. Sleeping with mother is very bad, but no reprisals either sacred or profane. Wife gets vexed if husband sleeps with a married woman.
Josephine
died June 5, 1953.
Unfortunately I only learned of this at about 5 P.M. We went over. Adrian
, Herbert
, Harold
, Frederick
(came for short time) Boris
, Brett
and others there. Men sat inside the compound. Most women sat outside across the road. Many women there. When we came Olive
and another daughter were wailing. There was small fire burning and lots of firewood ready to be burned. The daughter Olive
threw out Argusi seeds corn and guinea-corn. This was for her deceased mother though the chickens ate it fast. Women had removed all jewelry and strings from their waists. Harold
took Vurup grass which Buchanan
had brought him. He blessed it and threw two bits on the ground, then gave Buchanan
and the husband of the other mourner some. He said "As you saw your dead mother in law, your crops will grow well, you will not get sick, if you go hunting you will shoot animals, Kissum". He took small bits and threw them away then put some in their outstretched palms. He slit remaining bit in two, Buchanan
did the splitting. Each man got a piece. He told them to throw it under bed in which they sleep. Josephine
had been buried about noon. Spectators seemed more serious than I had ever seen them. When we arrived there were 14 men and 17 women. Wailing went on for a long time. Woman had died in the morning. One of the wailers rolled on the ground. However once they were finished formal wailing at end of the compound their wailing ceased and they calmly began to breast feed their children. Lucky
seemed to be running the show.
Day after death many people bring fufu and soup. Many people brought food in this case. These gifts brought by outsiders as well as kinsmen. Food also cooked in the compound and given to visitors. No food taboo after death. It is said to be thoughtless to sleep with wife on the night after death, but not ritually prohibited.
Nam medicine. Made by Harold
and Rab
of Tigul. Had previously made some medicine in the house. The two placed seats and four stones in from of seats. Harold
carried a bunch of leaves with him. They broke off the awhile after fixing seat and rocks as food had just been brought from Rodney
's compound. Another stone added after food eaten. Grass taken from roof and small fire lit between the stones. Rab
and Harold
sit on chair. Fire lit from hot coals of fire in dead woman's house. About ten minutes passes while women for whom medicine being made are relieved of children. People chat and joke freely during this period. Daughter of deceased the one living in the compound, brings a small chicken. She shows it to Harold
. Other daughter brings water, leaf given to her by Harold
. Harold
talks to audience and smiles. He takes burning stick and circles fire three times. Other daughter gets small knife. Rab
cuts leaves an puts them in daughters palms also puts some in soup. Rab
puts pot with water on fire. The two sons in law are nearby. Then Gregory
says that if anyone comes to witch either of the two his medicine will catch them. Harold
and Frederick
repeat this. While this was being said women covered their eyes. You then takes chicken from resident daughter. Harold
again circles fire three times, the daughters and sons in law hold out their hands. Rab
circles chicken around the daughters and sons in law on the head with chicken then on the palms. Slits chickens beak. A feather of chicken put in its blood and rubbed on stomach and shoulder of the four. Only the tongue of the chicken is cut it is not killed. Feathers taken off while alive. Rab
does this, holds it over fire to help in plucking. Finally it is killed by having stick put through its throat. Then roasted on fire. People are now merry. Brett
plays no part in this, he is sitting in the corner of the compound fixing medicine house. Rab
and Buchanan
cooking chicken Harold
tends the fire. Native salt brought by resident daughter, given to Harold
. Puts some in his mouth theninto mouth of resident daughter, then to Rab
then to Buchanan
, then to other daughter and finally sons in law, each time he does this he says Kissum. Chicken is now partly cooked, they take out the intestine. Harold
breaks off a wing, gives to resident daughter. Then all five cup their hands and he cuts grass into them. Grass put in broken pot over the fire, then he touches the four with bit of chicken on forehead. Legs of chicken cut off and put in pot with grass over fire. Rab
puts the rest of the chicken in pot, all but intestines. Intestines cleaned by resident daughter. Rab
feeds the two women soup throwing a bit away. A bit of soup tied up in grass and given to women. The daughters braid this into a cord. Rab
makes resident daughter smoke his pipe. Braided string given to Rab
. Cleaned intestines put into pot. Daughters are laughing and joking. Pot with soup taken off fire and touched to two women breasts by Rab
. The two sons in laws are fed a bit of chicken by Harold
, while he says something. Rab
does the same. The two braided strings with soup inside tied around necks of women. Given Fufu by Rab
. Native salt put in chicken pot then European salt. Harold
takes a small bit and puts it on his tongue. Gives three tiny bits to Rab
, then to sons in laws then to daughters and finally to Brett
's wife. A grass called Son squeezed into the mouth of in laws, daughters and Brett
s wife. Fufu given to Brett
s wife by Rab
. Chicken taken out of pot and put on banana leaf by Harold
. Harold
takes tiny bit of chicken gives to Rab
, then the in laws and daughters. Brett
given a bit by Rab
. The rest eaten by medicine men and daughters in law. Some given to Kitty
and Brett
s wife. Rab
then puts pipe in mouth of the four ritually. Harold
pours water over the participants hands quenching the fire.
All baskets with family chickens brought out. Banana leaves rubbed on participants by Harold
. Now all kin join to get blessing including children. Kitty
, Brett
and Rab
kneel around the chickens. Harold
hits each on the head with leaves. Each person takes bit of grass an throws it over his left shoulder, this done with left hand. Harold
gives a blessing, then breaks off bits of grass and throws them on the chickens and are blessed. Harold
then holds bunch of leaves on hoe. Daughters and Rab
tie it in knots. Resident son in law makes hole and plants leaves near house. Some leaves given to the two daughter. "Forget" grass doused in water and shaken over chickens and four main participants and all inhabitants of compound.
JOHN
ON FUNERALS JUNE 6, 1953
Anyone can wail, man or woman even if not of family. However family members cry the more as a rule and women usually more than men. Wailers get no gifts. Women as a rule don't go into compound to wail. Women remove strings that they wear round their waists. After medicine made, if the deceased is your father, mother, wife, husband brother, sister both men and women wear white strings around their waist. More remote relatives may or may not as they wish. These worn for six or seven days. One can wear a cloth as well as strings.
Nam and Kum Medicine.
Harold
and Rab
(Tigul) made this medicine. The stones placed on the ground were put there only to cook food. Harold
used Njur Nami, Wulnami, Gulli, Lebir and other grasses. Both Nam and Kum medicines joined as both medicine men had them. They did at same time to save time. Chicken cooked for Kum medicine not Nam. The medicine men went into house alone with all of the grasses to chase dead out. They said "All the dead, All the Dead, all the dead, go to bush. Today I drive them, you will go out, children will not get sick, I make nam medicine. The dead will not come and sit in the house again.
Harold
later took burning grass and circled fire with it three times saying Dead people go to bush. Rab
cut some grass and put it in palms of the two daughters saying, "Today I cut you grass of Nam medicine, the dead will not make you sick, they will not follow you gain, you will look to the East, sickness will not trouble you. (The dead are driven to the West, the living go and stay to the East). The above was done to sons in law also. Olive
gave Rab
chicken. Harold
circled fire three times again saying to the dead. All dead all dead go to bush, then repeated three times living people will look to the East. Rab
took the fowl circled fire three times hitting sons in law and daughters on the head and under arms drawing across the body saying three times you will not have head ache, you will not have stomach ache. Blood from chickens mouth put on participants as this done for all medicines using chickens. When Harold
gave each of four participants native salt, he said three times, "I give you salt, the voice will not be tired (in reference to wailing of previous day). I give you this salt, salt for Nam, the dead will not trouble you again. The Harold
cuts leaves and gives to outstretched palms of 4 saying, I cut grass for Kum, Kum will not make you ill, your body will not be sick, your body will not tire. If this medicine not made the children of those who have cared for woman and pallbearers will get ill. The grass was cut into the hands of one of the sisters, who dropped it into the hand of her sister, who dropped it into the hand of her husband who dropped it into Buchanan
's hand who dropped it into the pot.
Harold
put the pot to each of the four forehead not quite touching, saying their head will not be black (the pot was very black from cooking). When Harold
put legs of chicken into pot, he said "your body will be light after sleeping". The participants could not eat or smoke until Rab
or Harold
fed them. When Harold
poured water on the hands of the four, he said "your body will be cook like water". The throwing of leaves over left shoulder is to make them forget dead. Then grass thrown on chickens to stop dead from making chickens ill to make chickens forget the dead, and to allow children to grow.
Nyenin is forget grass. It makes you forget things. Grass not rubbed in palms but with the back of the hands, as if one rubbed it with ones palms one would forget everything. When people had this grass rubbed on forehead he said they will forget the dead person, and the dead person will forget them. The leaves put in water on ground so that dead will forget chickens and chickens forget the dead.
JOHN
ON MARRIAGE
In past in case of exchange marriage seducer had to pay five goats, unless husband was of the family. Now when exchange no longer possible, fine is no longer five goats, unless the husband lives far away and is heartless. In the same hamlet or village the fine is ususally a fowl. Big people would not agree to claim of five goats when someone slept with his wife. When wife ill she confesses. Culprit then sends fowl for medicine, later sends five goats.
Rape does not exist as a crime in case of unmarried girls, though songs may be sung about man who raped girl. Bride is asked night of first sleeping with her what men she has slept with.
Frederick
says that if you sleep with wife of family member you may have to pay five goats, someone not in family may have to pay seven goats. Family of criminal helps him to pay. When asked what sanctions could be exercised to enforce payment, he said that it could not be refused. He says that family always helps, one man did it eight times, and his family helped him each time. Goats payed only for exchange marriage, for not exchange, pay only one fowl.
Aylmer
says if Mbon slept with his wife would make him pay five goats to teach him a lesson. He would help Garth
and Ian
to pay fine. Both ma' {mo} and Pa's {fa} family help.
War
Tiket and Ndiel never had war. All Warwar fought together against Vokude. If Ndiel got into war other hamlets would help. They fought with Vokude, Mbamga, Mang etc. Never fought Kabri. Wars usually fought over stolen women.
Johnson
says
Man Max
Man Clint
and Man Getchang cannot intermarry but they can marry into Man Neil
. He says all three of the same family. He doesn't know who Man founder. Tscharl and Tiket act as a unit against Ndiel in dances. When things are divided such as corn beer Tigul gives more to Ndiel than to others the same applies to Tscharl and Tiket. Tscharl will support Tiket against Ndiel or Tigul and vice versa. Johnson
does not know reason for this.
Johnson
on Seduction
With with wife of a man not in your family, woman will get ill. Big ant will say who seduce was. Seducer first gives one chicken then five goats. In family just give one chicken. Family will help seducer raise goats, if family does not have goats, will give money. Family will warn seducer that second time won't help. If seduced again then will be given as slave. If not exchange marriage still pay five goats. The resulting child belongs to husband.
INSTITUTIONAL FRIENDSHIP
Women and men can become friends (Bill). One begins about 15 or 16. One can leave him. The first thing that you do is to buy him beer and ask him to become your friend. If you refuse such an offer people will laugh at you saying that you have not much cargo. This according to John
has happened. John
's Bill was a boy that he grew up with and played with. MINIMA was the Boy's sister. John
first gave him one jug of corn beer, he gave in return two, John
gave 3 and soon it was up to 17, John
gave it to him last. Competitive element in this, usually done about twice a year, if you have not much food can wait up to three years or more. You must wait until your partner gives you feast before you give him one. Big men don't let juniors get too grandiose, in their feast giving. Every jug counted, a stick given for every pot. All beer counts. In case of Dembe man, all of beer given by all Warwar people counts. When you become big man your feasts get bigger. At death of one partner it finishes, but if the brother of the dead man wishes to continue he may. You can marry your friend's sister if you want to. You can have a friend from same town if you wish but not in same hamlet as if you did who would help you. In one famous case a friend approaching his friends town, Mang, was greeted by having ten jugs of beer poured on the ground. If you cannot give as much as your friend did last time it would be shameful thing. Your friend would then ask whether you did not want to keep his friendship and wanted to leave him.
When you marry your friend may give you some money, though this not competitive, you may also give him presents, but again not competitive. Your friend will come at your marriage and play with your wife, but not sleep with her. Also he may help on your farms, but not essential. Can call him by name or billama. Friend does not have sexual access to wife. He may go and ask big ant for you if you are ill. If someone dies in your family he will come and buy palm wine to give to you.
DEATH
If twin dies all farming must stop irregardless of age. It is only people with big medicine or twins who stop farming next day. People of family cannot go farming if male dies irrespective of age, this only applies to family members living in hamlet, if family members live in other part of town they can work their farms if they wish. When man dies no one can cut sticks, or resort to big ant on following day. For women with big medicine farming stops next day.
Simon
has Bill in Tigul a man named Randolph
. Has given two jugs. Chose him so that when he went to Tigul someone would give him corn beer.
Frederick
. Man from Dembe asked him to be his friend. This before they were married. He is not sure that when he is invited he will be given more, but if he is not, then he will laugh at his friend.
Ian
has no friend.
BRIDEWEALTH
Father ideally gives most for first marriage, but does not help much for succeeding ones.
Frederick
says that cowrie shells were used many years ago for money, they were introduced by Fulani.
EXCHANGE MARRIAGE
Frederick
and Gerard
say that it is a good thing. Frederick
says that he wishes it would be allowed again. When you exchange and have children all of your property goes to them. When marry with bridewealth the family of the mother can take children back, and then they won't have your property.
According to Frederick
if you marry with bridewealth, if you don't have children, then you get your bridewealth back. If children remain with you you don't claim it. If child is very small it returns with mother but when it gets bigger it comes back. In this case money not returned. He says too, and Gerard
agrees with him, that nowadays young men spend too much time looking for wives and don't have enough time to work farms. According to them both, the sisters had to exchange.
Ian
on Exchange Marriage.
Exchange marriage is bad as women forced to go to husbands whether they liked it or not. If woman died having no children the paired couple would have to give some of her children to the other husband. Ian
says it is better now. He claims if all bridewealth paid then child belongs to father. In olden days with bridewealth children belong to mother's family. He does say where exchange arranged many years ago it should not be broken as is the case in court at Mbamga, causes undue hardship to husband.
June 10th. THOR
ON BLACKSMITHING.
Doesn't know where are came from. He learned from Gordon
a relative who learned it from Adrian
. Need not be relative to learn from a person. Makes small money from 1d to 2d a job. Does not know how to make a spear. Must learn small medicine before doing any blacksmithing. He does only small jobs such as making hoes from flat pieces of iron bought from mission. Cuts iron by hammering with chisel. A bellows composed of two wooden tubes attached to two goatskins lead to fire. A funnel of clay holds two wooden pipes in place. He got his bellows from Gordon
. Hot metal held by pincers of wood.
June 10th. CLIFFORD
S COMMUNAL FARMING
Grass cutting for clearing field for guinea-corn. First person to appear was Irving
's wife. The first person to start work apart from the owner or his wife or immediate family gets a pot of corn beer. This applies to all communal farming, but no member of owners compound can claim it.
There was a big discussion before leaving Clifford
's compound as Clifford
had locked up all of the corn beer. The custon is that the owner tells the people when work is over, some men race to compound. The first one to get there gets first pot of beer on his own. Clifford
eventually put a pot of beer in Andrei
's house which was unlocked for this contingency. It is only when cutting grass for guinea-corn that this is done. Order of appearance. 9:30 Clifford
, Knox
, Rehfisch. 9:35 Irving
's wife, 9:40 Sybil
, Clifford
's wife, 9:55 Andrei
, 10:10 Ian
, 10:12 Eddie
with corn beer, 10:18 Langley
, 10:20 Clint
s wife, 10:30 Ron
and Charles
's wives. 10:40 Norma
, Ezra
's daughter. 11. Caspar
, 11:30 Howie
.
After about twenty minutes of work all adjourned for beer. 40 minutes of beer drinking. Caspar
and Dyson
s wife start work. Andrei
followed after two minutes. Charles
's wife 5 minutes later. Clifford
2 minutes later, then Ian
. Then all followed. None drank beer and then left. 3 pots of beer brought down. One by Clifford
, one by his wife and one by Eddie
. Worked for about 1 hour. Finished one side, then another pot of beer. Then started again. People work for about five minutes, hard then let up, talk for a minute or two then start again. That is for men only. Women work less rapidly but more steadily. They work in a line which is not straight as some work faster than others. Children are stripping grass later to be used for making baskets. Native hoe in short strokes uprooting grass and cutting roots of longer rooted weeds. Grass allowed to lie on field to dry. Later to be burned. At 4:30 people left field as work finished. By 5:30 people assembled at Clifford
s. Interim spent washing and chatting. About fifty people turned up at beer party. Clint
was biggest man. A small pot about four calabashes poured for Frederick
as he did not show up. He was tired and not feeling well. 4 jugs brought out at once. Andrei
, Clint
, Howie
and Ed
given jugs. Clint
gave his to Ian
. After these finished two more brought out. Clint
given a large calabash full, he took sip, then held while Andrei
drank holding his index finger towards the sky. Clint
muttered something like a spell. It is done because Andrei
worked the hardest. Broke up at 7:30. Much banter between Ian
and Clifford
on the subject that each was going to steal the others wife. Also Sybil
and Ron
joked, Ron
's wife going so far as to go into Sybil
's house and tossing out some of her baskets telling her to go. This all in fun. Much talk about Marcus
and theft of a cow, Ron
, Harold
,Clint
, Martin
, Keith
, Kitty
Mbon Aylmer
, Zoe
, Gerard
, Graeme
among those present.
When Clint
muttered spell for Andrei
, he said "Bless you, What you want you will get you will work harder than the others. Even if others work very hard you will pass them. Bless you. Andrei
had told Clint
that he worked the hardest. The person that thinks he has worked best walks up and takes cup after big people had had theirs. If there is a discussion about who deserves the honour than those present at working party decide. The owner of the farm can't claim it. This is done for all communal work parties. Clint
chosen to recite blessing as when he was young he was well known for working hard. Even if Frederick
had been there Clint
might have been chosen to give beer. The person who wins the honour must be given beer by a member of his kin group, whether maternal or paternal.
PEOPLE WHO DID NOT MAKE CORN BEER FOR MBASHOA.
1. Andrei
's compound. As he had had communal farming two days before.
2. Brett
. He said his wife ill.
3. Herbert
. Not enough food because of flood.
4. Irving
. Same reason as for Herbert
. People may sing satirical songs about these two as they don't have enough food, but they won't mind as they know it is not their fault.
5. Cadogan
. His wife had made beer for when people brought firewood and she says she too tired to make more.
6. Ian
. Only made one pot in case in laws come.
7. V. Zielinski
. Graeme
says he has fever.
8. Garth
. Says he has to save money as Nicholas
and Aidan
want to marry, so he sells all of his surplus crop.
June 11, 1953.
Buchanan
was taking his food inside his house with the women. While this is not forbidden it is rarely done. Brett
was not waiting with him.
Guinea-corn TABOOS
It is not permitted to talk while removing guinea-corn from storehouse or it will run away fast. I learnt this by going to Rodney
s compound greeting him and being ignored, that is he half-smiled but said nothing to my greeting. It was later explained that he did not answer because of taboo. When one descends from ladder then one can talk. Women can take guinea-corn out of store house, but can't talk while so doing. The same applies to children.
When you take corn from store you can talk. Later observation showed that some people do talk while removing guinea-corn. Some say that it doesn't matter, some say that one can only talk to persons living in compound and some say you can talk to any one. Some said that they could talk to me, but not to others as I was different.
June 11, 1953
DAY BEFORE MBASHOA.
Shoas taken out of medicine house with much ringing of anklet bearing ball bearings. This is done to warn women away. Some small boys around, some of smaller ones run away when Shoa about to come out, even though they know it is only man inside they fear it.
The Jujus from Nyap's compound taken out by Roland
those from Frederick
's compound by Frederick
. Eddie
took the latter behind the fence and Langley
took Nyaps to repair them. New red ochre rubbed on them as well as soot on black parts. No reverential attitude in their treatment. Nyap's is called Mafe. Tanjo is name of Lance
s. They are made up of rough sacking upon which tied chicken feathers. A small wooden mask is tied on top. Njibale is play Juju of Nyap
June 12, 1953, MBASHOA
5:30 A.M. We went to Archibald
s compound where they were fiddling with mats of medicine house. In a short time they were to make medicine that laymen could see. Archibald
, Thor
and Keith
(Of Gregory
's ) compound there.
6:30 Archibald
says that it is too cold so he will wait awhile before making medicine.
6:50 Mbon goes under mats to fix Jujus. Not very secret, they open mat for me to see. He puts Juju on. Pot of corn beer sent to women in house.
7:30 Drinking beer and eating food at Archibald
s were Roland
, Nathan
, Kurt
, Archibald
, Ron
, Cadogan
, Knox
,Clint
. Conversation about wrestling. Women leave the house only rarely and cautiously. They walk rapidly and seem to be alert. Some men being shaven. Archibald
s Juju called Burr (dog) he plays like a dog.
8:00 Rumour hath it that play Jujus coming from Tigul. Children are worried. Andrei
begs beer from women by standing outside of the door and growling, this in Archibald
s compound. I entered house only one woman frightened and hid in blanket. The rest chatting quite matter of factly. They asked me to bring Shoa small cup of beer which I did. Howie
is one of play shoas.
If a small boy sent on errand he carries ball bearing ring. If a play Shoa attacks him, the latter must pay Archibald
a fowl.
9:10 A.M. Gulli grass put around neck of sculptured shoas. This done so that they will look nice and not for medicine. So far nothing much has happended except fixing of Shoa suits. The rest of men, those not fixing suits, are drinking beer.
9:30 Frederick
tells people in his compound to hide some of the beer so that if relatives come, he will not have to give all of it away.
9:35 Adrian
appears alone in Nyap's compound. A few minutes later he calls Roland
. Roland
without asking what he wants brings a jug of beer. Then Adrian
takes a piece of grass out of the roof of the house, Roland
takes two, Adrian
takes another. Just breaks off tip throws stalk in the bush. He then goes into the bush and gets some Nge grass. Holds it with piece of straw from the roof. He puts all of this grass into medicine house. Opens top section of medicine house. Only John
, I, Adrian
and Neal
are in compound. Adrian
takes out package of chicken feathers. Clint
comes in and laughs. Adrian
takes off his blanket. Langley
comes in. Roland
goes off to bush gets Yu grass gives to Adrian
who puts in medicine house. Roland
takes Burr out. Langley
rings iron with ball bearings. Other Jujus taken out. Pot of corn beer put in medicine house. Adrian
his both shoulders with Yu grass, eats native salt and nibbles a bit of Yu grass. Everyone told to turn their backs except Adrian
and Roland
. Langley
touched on stomach with native salt. Is given salt and Yu grass to eat by Adrian
. Then Adrian
says that he will dance better than the others and not fall, spits all over him. Langley
puts on suit. Adrian
rubs him with chicken feathers. Says that when Langley
turns he will not be dizzy. Takes Nge grass spits on it and says if women see Shoa and don't admit it they will die quickly. Roland
comes out of medicine house and dons Burr. Adrian
wraps up Nge grass and gives it to Langley
. Hits Langley
with grass from roof on feet, breasts, head saying if he dances better than others and others try an bewitch him the witch will die. Adrian
takes corn beer from small pot spits three times on Langley
and gives him to drink. Boy from Adrian
's compound has same medicine made for him as was made for Langley
, next Adrian
does the same for Neal
, then Brett
. These are the people that will wear suits when first wearers are tired. First two are Langley
and Howie
. Suit taken off Howie
so neck can be fixed. Medicine as above now made for Roland
. Howie
puts suit back on. Bundle of feathers now put back in medicine house by Adrian
. About ten or fifteen minutes taken to adjust suits, especially the neck of Burr which is on Howie
. Both serious and bantering conversation going on. All take off Shoa suits and these put back in medicine house. Adrian
offers to sell me a Juju. Seven non-used shoas are kept in Adrian
s store. Those we have seen so far are Nyaps except Burr which belongs to Archibald
. The seven unused ones belong to Nyap since they were Theobald
's, Adrian
keeps them as he is Theobald
's brother.
11:50 Nothing has happened much yet. People still sitting in Archibald
's compound drinking corn beer. Only one man from Tigul, also 2 men form Tigul who have just abandoned their play Shoa suits
12. Garth
goes under mats of medicine house and makes medicine.
12:10 Roland
vexed because women are singing and dancing in house and he says that they should not do this until shoas have gone to sleep. He takes this all very seriously and seems to know about all the medicines.
12:20 Strangers from Vokude appear and gave Archibald
cola nuts, he distributes them, but big men refuse them as they say it is not traditional.
12:30 The most powerful Juju of all Nya Ba, brings Lobal medicine. Ron
made the medicine for it. Ron
is wearing Shoa, Jake
(Tigul) also wears it, Robin
will too. Jake
wearing it now. They go behind fence, Jake
is carrying Lobal. Press down grass with feet. Archibald
comes later. This is where Tschang sleeps. (People who did not eat cola are those who are going to make medicine. Grass is trod down by these three as they are Neyen Nyu to Archibald
. That is why Archibald
comes later, not to see this being done.
12:40 The two Jujus from Nyaps place appear behind fence in areas the three Nyena Nyus cleaned. A fire is set. Small pots of corn beer brought 3 in all one by Abraham
and two other small boys. Shoa suits removed. Fire burns a bit of dried palm leaves that had been taken by Ron
from the fence. Much laughter, Nya Ba brings four ears of corns, which Robin
roast on fire. Both Nya Ba that Jake
(Tigul) Ron
and Robin
are Nyena Nyu to Archibald
. Gregory
sits with the three Nyena Nyu and Archibald
. Now others come and sit down. Harold
on prepared field. Garth
and Ian
sit far away. Harold
eats some corn. Archibald
fixes Burr on Neal
. Adrian
comes with Guli sits on prepared area. Rab
, Rodney
, Gregory
, Archibald
, Niall
(Tigul) Adrian
, Jake
(Tigul), Harold
ate the corn. Only medicine people and Nyana Nyu can do this. Thor
brings Guli grass. Warren
then Roland
bring a small pot of beer. Archibald
holds Guli grass brought by Thor
his son. Clint
brings small pot of beer. Much clowning by big men pretending to eat small children, all with much laughter. Clint
criticises all because they only brought pots, but then he did this himself. Frederick
still does not sit on cleared area. Jujus have been sitting there all of this time. Garth
walk over to Adrian
says something and walks off. Clint
keeps going in and out. Waiting for Ron
to come back as he has some medicine.
1:30 Clint
now sits on the field. Nobody doing anything but chattering. waiting for Ron
to make medicine. No one knows where he is and no one seems vexed at waiting. They begin. Jake
begins to pour corn beer. Adrian
holds a cup Niall
pours palm oil into pot, Archibald
had done it first, that is had put first oil into Adrian
s cup.
Ron
has just come bringing corn beer, Guli grass and mud. Archibald
, Ron
and those listed above go into bush to make medicine. Archibald
followed by Adrian
. Mud put on trumpet by Archibald
the big men passing it around to each other in turn. Ron
and Clint
take it as well as others. Much jocularity Adrian
does it for himself and hands to Archibald
. Abraham
is only small boy that it is given to, some have mud put on chest in form of cross, others just left too. Now others come to field and it is put on many including the children. Abraham
is only one of boys like the big men to lick mud. Garth
and some other men did not get mud. Ron
poured beer into Archibald
, Neville
and Harold
's horn. They all whistle and blow out beer. Again Abraham
joins men. Frederick
does not join. Adrian
gives his regular Tschuk speech. He ends everybody shouts. Nyaba hits big men with Lobal. He then makes speech mentioning Cahill
, Johnson
, etc. again greeted with cheers. Makes further speech mentioning Nyena Nyu again cheers. A speech saying if anyone steals wives, shoas will get them. All the time he is making speeches Adrian
holds cup of beer in right hand and Guli grass and whistle in left.
Dyson
interrupts and Adrian
gets vexed. Adrian
got mad and cursed those who stole his palm wine. Big argument about father who showed some palm wine trees to son. Garth
got mad as did Cadogan
. Complete chaos, people pushing each other around. Silence restored. Cadogan
speaks. Frederick
restores silence by speaking. Another explosion between Dyson
and Ron
. Griffith
harangues. Adrian
finishes amid noise. He shares cup of beer with Rab
. Adrian
and Archibald
give all even small boys Guli grass. Adrian
stopped at 2:45. Beer drunk by many. Four shoas begin to dance.
3:05 People hit ground with sticks and grass and shout at same time, this just to make noise.
3:15 Adjourned to Archibald
s' Shoa dances. Harold
wrestled with Neville
. Gregory
touched hand of Harold
, Jake
touched hand of Gregory
. Tanya of Tigul touched hand of Jake
, Dyson
touched hand of Tanya. Now anyone can wrestle and sing. Shoas dance again, they whirl around and around with their arms outstretched. Before this started play shoas came. People caught Binnie and play Shoa flogged him. Binnie started to throw rocks at Shoa but people stopped him. He was absolutely hysterical. This was done as he had been bad.
3:45. Shoas left for Tiker Came to Ron
s compound. Archibald
led Burr around centre by having him hold Lobal he went around three times. Then Clifford
and another man both as shoas danced around centre stayed about five minutes before going to Tiket.
4:00 Change of personnel in shoas on the road. Adrian
gave new shoas native salt. 4:10 Came to dance place in Tiker. Tiker men behind fence. After ten minutes of dancing they go behind Johnson
's house and lie down.
4:20 Tscharl Jujus come out and play for four minutes then go behind fence. We left all sitting shoas behind and went behind fence. Johnson
was making speech. Tiker people all sitting together, Tscharl sitting together, Ndiel and Tigul sitting mixed up together.
Cecil
and Nyap (T) join Johnson
in making Tschuk in the same way as Adrian
did. Johnson
and Nyap hold Guli grass. Tigul land Ndiel as well as Tscharl and Tiket get Guli grass from Cecil
. 5:00 Rain storms drive people into houses for shelter. Neither Obidiah
nor Rathbone
are here. Rain stops.
All people have removed their upper but me. Samuel Zielinski
tried to refuse but they made him take off his shirt.
5:30 Johnson
put corn beer under stone in fenced area. He covers it with leaves. Peter
(Johnson
s brother) helped him in this.
Johnson
and Peter
gave people mud including Yip chi and Tscharl people. John
claimed that people from Ndiel and Tigul took it too, I am not certain.
Johnson
sings wrestling song, then Jujus only, then others do the same.
Samuel Zielinski
and Johnson
stop them as Nyap want to ring bell. Johnson
waves piece of Lobal to silence people. Adrian
tells Johnson
to make all people shut up.
Then the medicine men say if anyone with bad medicine wrestles Warwar people Shoa will get them. Adrian
suggested this all agreed. Johnson
rings bell.
We go to Foster
s. He and Johnson
wrestle, but it is stopped as soon as Foster
lifts Johnson
off the ground. Foster
then sings song, followed by Dyson
, followed by Nyap (t) then Garth
. Johnson
given pot of beer. Foster
and Johnson
share first cup. Johnson
takes another cup and sprays it over shoas.
No wrestling takes place but about twenty people sing wrestling songs. Adrian
says to crowd that foreigners will not throw Warwar wrestlers.
Back to Johnson
s, Foster
again wrestles Johnson
. A man from Mang follows Foster
. After about five singers party begins to break up. Went home at 7:00 P.M.
June 13, 1953. Mbashoa continued
Many people danced all night. Much corn beer. John
and Clifford
danced all night. In morning while we were sitting in Nathan
s house, Darius
, play Shoa, threw in some cola and gave Frederick
an ear of corn. The young men who are going to wrestle are carrying their beer calabashes on a string tied to their shoulder as they must drink only from new cups. Some others also carry them this way, so that if play Jujus chase they can run better this way. Man and woman play Shoa go through act of fornicating standing up. Archibald
leads shoas to Gregory
s compound, twice around the central tree. Deposits one Lobal leaf and then starts to go as no one here. Gregory
arrives as they about to leave. They ask for corn beer. Gregory
goes to bush with a friend from Gembu Petil called Eustace
. Friend carries back beer. Archibald
pours a bit of beer on Lobal. He and Gregory
share a cup which is finished by Gregory
and Harold
. Take corn beer out of compound.
We go to Cadogan
duas, Archibald
leads him around centre tree and then straight on to Adrian
s. Again walked around centre tree, Archibald
again leading Shoa with Lobal. The friend Eustace
goes in to house to get pot of beer. Sit around and wait for beer. Gregory
has joined us as have several strangers, 3 play shoas here. A small pot of beer brought from Rodney
. First cup given to Archibald
who pours on Lobal drinks a bit and gives rest to real Shoa. Gives next to play Shoa and next to another play shoa, 3rd cup to third play shoa. Rodney
takes his pot away.
Play shoas start to go but someone tells them to stay as wrestling has not started. Harold
sings wrestling song, Jujus join in clapping, Thor
follows then Gregory
. No real wrestling. Songs sung are: Where is the old chief? and Warwar people are going to take farms from Vokude people. Next to Harold
's compound. One pot of beer brought. Poured on Lobal by Archibald
helped by Harold
, rest given to Shoa, then Archibald
and Harold
share. Adrian
not here, but Gregory
, Frederick
, Robin
, Harold
, Archibald
and Shoa are. Another pot brought. Play Shoa who is male often goes through act of masturbating.
One of shoas of Tiker is so powerful that he cannot enter any compound or inhabitants would go crazy. He is just a wooden head, no cloth, he looks like Mafe, was carried by a boy of 12 and sat outside compounds.
1:30 Went to Tigul with shoas. Adrian
, Archibald
, Gregory
, Frederick
,Robin
were only big men to come. Brett
came as Burr. Clifford
went as Tanju. Hugh
(Tigul) is dancing Mafe. Cahill
follows Archibald
who is distributing Lobal. Archibald
does not sing wrestling songs or dance. Gregory
leads all wrestling songs. Warren
, Abraham
and one of Harold
s sons following us. The big people here say that there is not to be much wrestling as they fear people will get hurt and court will intervene. Also they shout to play shoas to hit people on legs only, not on head as otherwise someone might get hurt. Big argument as play Shoa hit a man's mother. Much talk no action. Bartholomew
made Tschuk medicine in one compound. Left Tigul about 6 with all people.
June 14 Mbashoa continues.
11:00 A.M. Frederick
, Harold
, Ron
, Archibald
were big men at Archibald
s compound. Ron
poured corn beer over Lobal in Archibald
s compound as Archibald
had done elsewhere, but he did not deposit it, Archibald
did that. Rest of morning spend drinking in afternoon play Jujus terrified kids. They enter a house and with the help of men haul out a child and make as if they are going to eat him. The men finally succeed in getting child away and let him run into house. Terry
, Malcolm
and others of this age get nearly hysterical. At Caspar
s compound children wrestled. Were given pots of beer and sent into a house. 15 children in it ranging from about five to 16. Warren
being the oldest was given first pot to divide. He poured some, then let Abraham
divide. All was very elegantly and correctly done among peace and quiet. Then play Jujus roared in and children scuttled up to second floor. The Jujus threatened them unless they gave up the beer which they did, they gave it all up.
About 4:00 Ron
carrying only the ring with the ball bearings went outside Marius
s house and Nyaps and asked for food. Marius
gave the little boys who went in to collect a fairly large piece of dried meat. Nyaps wife gave a handful of salt. Later Burr went to Harold
s, Adrian
s, Rodney
s and up to Ian
's area and got more food. All gave them salt for the most part. Abraham
, Warren
and two other children about 7 and 8 from Jake
s compound followed Burr and they went in to the houses to get the food. Food is to be cooked tomorrow. I did not see any wrestling today as big people discouraged the younger men from doing it. They feared court cases. All claim that they used to wrestle much more.
June 15th. Cook food given for shoas.
The corn for the food is ground by boys from Archibald
s family and also girls. Girls married into the compound cannot prepare it. A daughter of Archibald
s (strictly speaking Mallam Taffis daughter) is and does grind. Boys only grind a little. Jujus from Nyaps compound is brought to Archibald
s. Put in Archibald
s eating house and the house opening is covered with mats. Archibald
takes out Burr and puts it also in the house. Two chickens have been brought by young boys to be introduced to Jujus for first time. Children led into house. Before going in a pinch of salt put into their mouth by Archibald
. A chicken swung over the Jujus then over boys. Archibald
says something. Then Thor
pulls the leaves that Jujus wear around their necks, these leaves called Ingwinimie.
A chicken has his tongue slit. Thor
swings it around so that all take blood from its mouth. Then all have chicken feathers stuck on their right shoulder by Thor
. Then Harold
says something and touches all on chest. Children seem to fear nothing but are quieter than usual. Third chicken killed and feathers taken off. Ron
, Harold
, Archibald
and Thor
and on of Archibald
s Nyena Nyu here as well as Edmund
from Tscharl.
Children are Theo
and Teddy
having no grass, and Malcolm
, Samson
, Barnaby
, and Kit
having grass. A bit of liver put on knife given to Harold
by Archibald
holding knife. Then Harold
gives some to the rest. Robin
comes in. Wing of chicken dropped into pot by boys. Then Archibald
cuts grass through all of the childrens hands letting it drop into pot where rest of chicken is. Ron
also cuts grass. As an indication of how little of the ritual attitude prevailed Robin
had brought a goat skin which he was trying to sell, much marketing. Adrian
and Frederick
come to compound but stay outside as does Clifford
. The children who are seeing all of this for the first time keep running in and out at this stage. The salt collected by Jujus will be put in with chickens. That left over to Archibald
. Women cannot eat it, nor can they eat any of the chickens as they have been given to shoas. Lonnie
a boy from Clint
s compound caught by Juju, this time he fell in front of it. He brings chicken. Archibald
gives him a bit of leaves. Ron
ties special leaves around it. He brings chicken. Archibald
gives him a bit of leaves. Ron
ties special leaves around his neck, Harold
waves chicken over his head saying Kissum. Slashes tongue of chicken, his neck, Harold
waves chicken over his head saying Kissum. Slashes tongue of chicken tastes blood, gives some blood to Lonnie
to taste. As they cut up the chicken they say to Lonnie
the back of his legs nor his back will not hurt him. Lonnie
given a part of liver on a knife to eat. As Archibald
puts cold water into cooking pot, he says children who have been called in "as the cold water is so your skin will be, cool and fever will not get you, and Jujus wont catch you.
About an hour later, in the interim the others had been drinking beer, the specially ground Fufu is given to initiates by Thor
, wrapped around a leg of chicken. They eat it in Archibald
s eating house. Archibald
dressed in his Shoa. The leaves taken off the children they are pushed out of the house and the play Jujus flog them then they come back. Ron
puts mud on all of the peoples chests that are there. They put the head of the Juju on the children and some of the men present. Archibald
then spits some of the bark from the tree in the centre of the compound into the mouth of the Shoa. Then Thor
and Harold
give the children some mud on tongue and chest from head of Burr. Clifford
got some of the mud.
MBSHOA FINISHED WHEN THEY PUT : BURR AWAY
TEP MEDICINE
Rodney
s Compound June 16, 1953
Came in while they were cooking the chicken. Already chicken feathers on the shoulders of the participants. Medicine made for the child of Reuben
(Rodney
s compound). Medicine made by Rodney
, child is a girl. After this medicine they can shave her with blade, before could only cut her hair. This medicine made if many previous children had died. With first child you make all of the medicine that your fathers family made. If the child dies, you may continue making medicine on several children, if they die, then you try to save the next by making only this medicine on them, this kills the other medicines. In order to partake of chicken and fufu of this medicine one must either have the medicine made for one when small or have it made for ones child. Ritual similar to other medicines in that chicken blood, feathers, native salt given to participant. Rodney
gave native salt to mother, father and child, also they licked palm oil from one of sacrificed chickens feathers. All the people of the compound ate of chicken and fufu. Name of child is Alex
.
ADRIAN
TALKS OF MBASHOA
Adrian
says that people were stealing his palm wine and he wanted to make medicine to prevent them. Dyson
said not to make the medicine as sometimes Nyena Nyu take ones palm wine. Dyson
was very vexed as Adrian
did not agree to refrain from making the medicine. Adrian
made it by saying whoever took his palm wine should be caught by Jujus. While saying this he threw a bit of corn beer on the ground thus making the medicine. Adrian
said that he wanted to make the medicine as now he was too old to go to Kimbaw or Ndu to get things to trade, and he could not work farm much, so if people took his palm wine he could not get money to pay his taxes and buy things.
Harold
told Adrian
to make medicine so that if a man dies when his children still small the members of his family and other townsfolk will show the children the farms of their father. Also must show him palm wine trees. If people hide this knowledge the Jujus will get them. Cadogan
said that this medicine should not be made, at this Garth
got vexed and asked Cadogan
whether he had stolen farms. People got angry at Cadogan
and finally he agreed to have medicine made.
Frederick
later said that people were angry when Adrian
wanted to make medicine for palm wine trees as he seemed to be accusing the hamlet people of stealing. Only some agreed to his making it, therefore they were angry that he went ahead and made it. John
says that he should not make such medicine without having most people present agree to his making it.
WULI FARMS and Mountain Ownership.
Gays is about 15 yds by 18 yds, this is his only Wuli farm.
Gregory
s about 15 yds by 12 yds. He is also using another plot.
Gregory
, Robin
,Ron
, Isaac
, Alan
(Dyson
s compound) Dyson
, Keen
, Harold
,Denzil
, Cadogan
, Irving
, Frederick
, Griffith
, Roland
have all planted their fields together.
Roland
claims that he owns this land on the mountain side, but that he can't stop people from farming on it, even if he wished. Can only stop them from burning grass for hunting. Anyone even a total stranger who comes to village can plant here. Doesn't know whether he could sell it or not, he says that he would have to ask Cadogan
who is the big man for the area. Cadogan
says the mountain belong to Adrian
s he is big man for them. It once belonged to their big father Dobson
. But he says anyone can work it as farm without consulting Adrian
. Cadogan
says that Roland
doesn't know and thinks that he owns it because Theobald
did. During dry season if they hunt they bring all meat to
him Cadogan
as Adrian
told him to take care of the mountain. When meat is brought Adrian
called and he distributes meat among all four hamlets. When asked whether if people from one hamlet did not come to hunt, they would still share in meat, he said that they always came.
Tangana Farm Palaver.
Farms belong to Tscharl. Tscharl planted tin trees. Farms belonged to Chamberlain
brother of Harry
. Now they all belong to Harry
. They never agreed to Tangana people working farms. Planted Tin last year when they planted guinea-corn. Tangana people took down trees and have not yet planted guinea-corn. Tangana people say that it is their farms, D.O. Told that it was not, D.O. gave them some of the farms. Evidently the boundary of the two villages set by Don Lawan on the mountain. He told Tangana people that they could collect the crops that they had planted but that from thence on they must not use the area again. They tested claims by using sasswood, Tangana chickens died.
GIRI MEDICINE
Seen at Caspar
s compound June 23, 1953.
Men as well as women from compound took part, also Reuben
from Rodney
s compound Rodney
made medicine. Adrian
there but did nothing but blow whistle. This is same medicine as seen at Rodney
s three months ago. Chicken mortally wounded and thrown on the ground. It whirls around and it it falls on its back with its right leg up then all will be well. Actually as soon as it falls in this position it is picked up so that it can assume no other. People having this medicine made for them must take off all of their clothes except native loin cloth. It is made for new born children but protects all of the compound dwellers against witchcraft.
Archibald
tells us who were introduced to shoas a few days ago:
Duke
not seen before
Adam
" " "
Anselm
seen before
Malcolm
(Harold
s son) seen before
Lonnie
Juju had caught him
Horace
had seen before
Duke
and Adam
had brought a chicken. Lonnie
brought a chicken. The others did not bring chicken as they had none. Archibald
can show them Jujus if they bring no chicken, but they must give him at least some native salt.
ARCHIBALD
ON MBASHOA JUNE 24
Lobal brought to all compound so that bad sickness will not come, so that there will be peace in the compound and that enough food will be in the compound.
Order of visiting in Ndiel: Cornelius
, Ron
, Gregory
, Rodney
, Adrian
, Harold
.
Tigul: Neville
, Bryce
, Jake
, Cedric
, Rudi
.
The reason they put Lobal here and not in other compounds is that all of these people have Bel medicine.
Behind the dance fence they throw beer on rock, hit rock with stick, and throw beer in the air to make it rain. They flatten out area behind fence near the rock on which they pour corn beer. This is where dead people sleep. They make medicine near dead people so that the latter will bring them good food and rain.
Burr is the most important Shoa in Ndiel because his is the oldest. Older ones existed, but have been lost or destroyed.
TSCHUK MEDICINE JUNE 24.
Made for girl from Charles
s compound who came back for visit recently having been married. The girl brought palm wine which Frederick
took, Drank first cup. Xavier
said if people from Tscharl did not bring £4 they would not take chicken. The girl handed Griffith
a chicken and a jug of palm wine, when she did this Clifford
said that now that chicken had been given and palm wine for Tschuk, she would have many male children. Slit chickens tongue, licked some of blood gave her to lick, and let some drip down her back. Hit her shoulder and the small of her back with chicken leaving blood marks. Clifford
had also put some blood on his right toe. Ron
takes feathers off and cooks chicken. Second jug of palm wine taken by Frederick
and divided. Here are Frederick
, Ron
, Clifford
, Duncan
, Andrei
,Xavier
, Gene
(Tscharl) Irving
, Charles
, Pearson
, Reg
(Tiket) Gene
and Xavier
watch cooking carefully. The girl is only female in the circle the rest of the women sit far away. The cooking is done on the path leading to Beckett
s compound. Griffith
when he met the girl coming said it was a very small chicken. Actually it was a large cock. Clifford
cuts up the chicken. Griffith
holds intestines up. Charles
, Ron
Andrei
run their fingers up it while Clifford
says something. Finally the girl does this also. Then it is put in girls outstretched palms. They rub the hands up intestine three times. Girl passes intestine back to Clifford
three times. 3rd time keeps it and put it on fire. As they ran their hands up the intestine Griffith
said today we make Tschuk medicine so that many male children will be born. Clifford
gives first bit of chicken, a wing, to girl to nibble then takes it back. The two feet are given to two small boys. About a third of the chicken given to Frederick
. Clifford
keeps big piece. Girl has all the time sat close to fire watching proceedings. Clifford
gives Reg
a leg and Charles
a leg. Children in audience get given small pieces by older people.
Clifford
puts a grass in the palm wine. Reg
, Ron
, Xavier
, Charles
, Andrei
, Frederick
then woman take a sip from cup. Before woman drinks he puts a bit of the same grass in her mouth. Clifford
and Reg
share in the finishing of the cup. The grass called Ndu. Clifford
puts it in the fire saying woman will bear male children, witches will die, her crops will grow, boys will marry girls, etc. He then gives girl another cup. A man from Tscharl related to Frederick
's group through a woman wanted to have medicine made for him. Clifford
told him he would have to pay four shillings. He refused, Much discussion. Finally paid four shillings.
Clifford
took Guli grass waved it over girls head saying things. All laughed while he was talking including Clifford
. Then waved grass over fire. Ron
then shaved stick over woman saying things, then spat on her right breast, then shaved wood over the fire. Frederick
chewed Lebir grass and put it on between her breasts. Ron
had forgotten to spit on her so Frederick
reminded him.
The Nyena Nyu from Tscharl represents the groom. He goes to pick up calabash and Frederick
says that he must pay for them. So he produces 3d and Frederick
takes it and keeps it. He is not happy and thinks it should be more. Nyena Nyu not from grooms family but represents him.
Harry
the father of the groom comes, they argue about £4. Xavier
is the man who will get it. Xavier
is vexed as he had wife and Harry
s brother married her. Harry
says that he paid him in court for stealing her. Argument is about bride price for girl. Girl went to Tscharl about three weeks ago, that is to her husband. Ian
, Clifford
and Frederick
counsel Xavier
to wait before asking for money and see what happens. Xavier
and Harry
are very vexed. Johnson
and Frederick
suggest that they make medicine to make them peaceful. Ron
makes it. He takes some leaves, puts them in calabash of water. Xavier
has come to sit near Harry
. Harry
says why he is vexed, then Xavier
does the same. Ron
takes leaves, shakes them on the ground then puts some in Harry
s mouth then into Xavier
s mouth. Ron
said, both are vexed, Jujus will catch earth and catch sun but not catch these people, said it three times for each of the two men.The shaved stick over the head of each three times.
Harry
said he was vexed: His brother married Xavier
s mother. When Xavier
wanted to get married he asked him for money to give gifts to fiancee. Harry
said he gave him some. Xavier
asked him to send man of his family to go help on girls families farm he did. Xavier
asked for help in bringing firewood to girls mother he did. Xavier
's mothers husband died. Gilmour
, Xavier
s older brother, told Xavier
s mother to come to Tiker with him. Xavier
followed his mother. Xavier
had previously lived with Harry
s brother at Tscharl with his mother. Harry
didnt help him with bridewealth as he had moved away to Tiker.
Xavier
said. When Xavier
first tried his fiancee, man who had married his mother was alive and helped him, when the husband died all of the man's brothers didn't help him with anything. Xavier
said that Harry
lied when he said he had helped him with money, firewood and farm work on his fiancees family farm. When he got married they gave him no money. Harry
took Xavier
s wife and she went to marry Harry
s brother at Kara. (The woman wanted to marry this brother. Xavier
took the runaway wifes brother to court and got a judgement.Harry
helped the wifes brother pay as he knew that his brother was going to marry the girl. Xavier
asked Harry
for farms, but Harry
refused saying that he was not from his family. Harry
s son married Beckett
s sister. (Xavier
being one of the family) Charles
said nothing during all of this.
The stick that Ron
scraped over the girl called Ndulkie. When he scraped it over her head, he said if witch tries to hurt her the Ndulkie would kill it. When he scraped it over fire he said if witch tried to steal ashes of fire or chickens feathers Ndulkie would catch him.
If witch stole the ashes or chicken feathers girl would get sick.
June 26th, 1953.
We happened to be walking by Brett
s compound and heard a lot of noise. It was a discussion about a big basket of Wulis left by deceased woman. Her three daughters and Ned
her brother were disputing its ownership. One daugher claimed a very big part and the others were vexed. After much discussion the issue was settled equitably dividing the Wulis into four parts one for each of three daughters and one for Ned
. Buchanan
made Shoa medicine to still the anger in their hearts. Buchanan
said three times touching earth and licking his fingers,
Shoa catch the earth, Shoa catch the sun
Shoa will not catch you,
Shoa will not hurt you,
Your body will not be heavy,
the fire of Juju will not hurt you (fire means illness)
{Mambila text from original fieldnotes - not in transcript:}
shoa ya lu, Shoa ya tap (three times)
shoa wo chi yola
shoa wo yu, war wo chua
wo Shoa chua chia ichi yar
Then he took the hand of each of three women touched it to ground three times and repeating this three times, after each statement he snapped his fingers and cleared his throat.
After this Rab
(Tigul) made Nam medicine. He said bad things will go away, while waving Nam grass over heads of all of the sisters. Did this with left hand. Then with right hand he held grass and said, today as you people are together and have confessed your anger the dead will no longer trouble you, the dead will join their own and the living join their own. The dead will forget you people and not make you sick or trouble you in any way. They each took a bit of grass and threw it over their shoulders and then given what was left. This to be placed under their beds.
June 28.
Dome now sleeps at Archibald
s compound, comes from Mverrup. Disel is father name, he sleeps Mverrup. Suzanne
is mothers name she died, she was married to his father when she died. His father agreed that he come. His real brother came to get him back, he does to like his brother. His brother beat him with a stick, and told him that unless he came home at once he would beat him. He refused so his brother beat him. He now says that he will go back to Mverrup next market day. He likes Mverrup better than here but was angry with his brother because the latter said that he must return at once. On July the 6th had not yet returned.
TANGANA FARM DISPUTE. TANGANA IS PART OF KARA
Boundary between Tangana and Tscharl is marked by trees on the path. If Warwar people sleep on other side of trees then they must pay tax through Kara. D.O. and Don Lawan made boundary. The D.O. Told Tangana people that they had planted corn on Warwar side, that they should collect their crop but must not plant there again. Tscharl people never asked them to leave, even after corn harvested. They are now angry as Tangana people have taken even more farms. The fields belong to Wandang and Djira. The Tangana people don't agree to boundary and have torn down trees marking it. Warwar has always owned both groups of farms. Tscharl people had allowed Tangana to use first group of farms on understanding that they would vacate when asked, since Tangana people said that they did not have enough. When they recently asked for them back, Tangana people refused. Case taken to Mallam Taffis court. Six Tangana chickens died of sasswood. Mallam Taffi reported this to Don Lawan who had marked original boundary and had told Tangana people to stay only until their crops were ready and then go. Disputed farms belong to: Geoffrey
, Clark
, Christian
, Ken
, Joseph
, Roddy
, Julius
, Enoch
, Marshall
, Josh
, Edmund
, Sinclair
, Harry
, Roger
. They all belong to MANA Chamberlain
.
Tangana man says. Samuel
is big man of people working the farms. He says that he was first to work here and farms belong to Tangana and Ninge people. He says that he will swear on the bell that this is true. He says Don Lawan told them that they belonged to Tangana and Ninge. He says his father and mother worked them. He says trees were planted by Tscharl people but that Warwar people had cut down Tangana and Ninge trees. (This refers to Tin trees)
Obidiah
says they belong to him. He says he planted the Tin trees, the farms belonged to Chamberlain
originally. Tscharl people admit they once cut down Tangana and Ninge Tin trees. They told Tangana and Ninge to come and take the trees away, the latter agree that they took their trees back. Tangana people say these were never Warwar farms. Tangana man says Don Lawan said that these farms belong to Tangana, but he told them to let Warwar people work some of them.
ADRIAN
June 29th - Special guinea-corn field
3 days after Mba Shoa he plants guinea-corn. Tscharl Tiker and Ndiel and Tigul plant same day. He must wait until guinea-corn comes out before telling people to plant theirs.
They have to wait until it comes out in all 4 hamlets before beginning to plant. Guinea-corn wont come out if people go sleep elsewhere, fight, sell food to strangers who take it out of town. They can sell food to strangers but it must not come away. If people break rule must give fowl to Adrian
then guinea-corn comes up.
Clifford
does not plant field for Tschuk but for Clifford
. Adrian
says even if he teached his medicine to another man he can marry his daughter and he, his.
INTRODUCTION TO MOTHER IN LAW
Nyap (T.) daughter is bride called Bin. Groom is Rhys
from Tigul. Married one year. This is done so that the husband of the bride can eat her mother's food during planting of guinea-corn. Otherwise he could not eat there for this period. At other times of the year the groom can eat at his in laws' with no medicine being made. Groom arrives carrying small jug of cornbeer, drunk by Johnson
and rest of family. Groom drinks none. He sits on side, no one paying any attention to him. Groom digs up small ridges, near Nyaps house. A bunch of leaves laid on ridges by Jake
holding Rhys
's hand. He also held hands when Rhys
made ridges. (A brother of Jake
bought the medicine from him for 1sh.) The mound is about 1 ft. high and 4 ft. long. Husband of girl helps mother in law take off her basket. She gives him native salt. She mixes seeds he has brought with hers. They plant guinea-corn in ridges together. They tie chicken brought from Tigul to be given to Nyap. All guinea-corn eaten by chicken. A small pot of cornbeer planted in mound. The groom gets under native umbrella and mother in law under mat. Young girls of compound rush in and shower both with water. The 2 keep working with hoes. Both are soaked. Young girls rush around trying to throw water on groom while medicine man chase them away. Nyap's wife and son in law sit on mound. They eat small bits of chicken and fufu. This medicine given to them by medicine woman is called Guana. The medicine man and woman hold up cup which son in law and mother in law share, much joking. Cahill
's wife makes medicine. The wife now makes her appearance and eats on mound with her mother. All 3 are given bits of Guli grass. The groom gives the mother in law chicken and then they rise. Medicine man and woman cover mound with grass. Grass taken off and done bit given to son in law, one bit to mother in law and some left on mound.
June 30th - FREDERICK
ON LAND TENURE. -
Frederick
says Parker
cannot sell farms unless he agrees. He says that Adrian
can sell those he got from his father but not those shown him by Frederick
. No one has sold farms in Ndiel for long time. Several have bought from Tiker and Tigul. He gave Garth
3 fields. Garth
gave him nothing as if Garth
's mother had been a man, Garth
would own them. He says everyone has enough farms some bought because land was better. Actually he cannot take farms from people. He says his big big father owned all the land a long long time ago. And sold some to Adrian
's big big father.
If Ian
dies Charles
and V. Zielinski
would probably work his farm. And when Ian
's son is big enough he would be given the farm. This applies also to palm wine trees.
{QV section in Marriage notes dated 30 June}
July 1st - TANGANA FARM PALAVER -
People from Tscharl who came to talk to me about it. Chamberlain
was 1st man to own farms. Tristan
, son of Chamberlain
, was 2nd owner. Ashby
was 3rd owner., was 2nd son of Chamberlain
. Hubert
is present owner, is son of Tristan
. He says that he owns all of the farms. That his brothers have begged them from him and he leaves them use use them. He could not tell his brothers to go away as they are of his family. He does not get any part of crop or a chicken, If he wanted to sell no one could stop him but has never should. No one using can sell without his permission. When he dies big people will decide who is to take care of farms. Maybe his sons but more probably a brother. Probably next oldest. He was oldest person in family when Bradley
died. And that is why he took care of farms. A long time ago the Tangana and Ninghe people as well as Warwar people used the farms. They became unpleasant and Hubert
told them to go away. The Ninghe and Tangana people did not work farms during Chamberlain
time. During Tristan
's time. When Hubert
got farms, the Tangana and Ninghe people told him not to come back them. Warwar people went to court and Don Lawan and D.O. made boundary giving farms to Warwar Tristan
did not want Tangana people to use farms, but they did anyway. Theobald
was chief then he told people not to fight. When Hubert
became owner they went to Mallam Taffi. Chickens of Tangana and Warwar given sasswood. Tangana fowl died. Tangana people angry as they say Mallan Taffi was Warwar man. Case taken to Gembu. There the boundary was fixed. When boundary made Samuel Zielinski
was chief. Tangana people agreed to boundary when D.O. present, but then jumped boundary. Warwar people planted corn and Tangana people destroyed it.
Tangana people put in jail. This happened 2 1/2 years ago. Warwar people then planted guinea-corn and argusi. Tangana people took it. Again Tangana people put in jail about 2 years ago. Next event is present one: Warwar people took down Tin trees on direction of D.O. When D.O. had fixed boundary Warwar people had asked him what to do with tin trees planted by Tangana. He told them to wait until they grew then take them down and give them to Tangana people.
Mr Schneider was here when they made boundary and also when they stole corn and guinea-corn. When Alkali asked chief of Kara whether he had sent people to work farms he said yes, Darius
had said to send them.
MARRIAGE - July 3rd - FROM JOHN
-
Except in elopments you give fowls and spear. In case of elopment you give a spear after parents agreed. In one case John
knows of father did not agree to elopment. Father rang bell saying "Juju catch girl, if she does not come back" Big people did not agree. So after much argument, bell rang again, saying "it should not catch her". However father still refuses to take money, spear or fowl.
It seems to be case that mother's family owns children of bridewealth, but not exchange. In olden times, if child of bridewealth marriage was given a sister to exchange by his father or brother and the sister was a product of exchange marriage, the children belonged to the father of the boy's family. However if son of bridewealth marriage given sister to exchange by mother's family the child belongs to the father.
MARRIAGE - July 3rd - from Clint
-
He says Simon
has given 3 £ already for Nyap's sister. They ask for £one more. £2 that lent him, and Dickson
gave him £1. Simon
has gone to Gembu to sell his salt and get additional £s. He gave no rings He knows that he has to give spear and fowls, but does not know what else they will ask. He has worked their farms several times. Has given money to mother's family.
The YA of PIPPA
, a girl of Dickson
's compound has come.
He is from Nverrup. We asked him what he had given her but he was too ashamed to say. He refused to talk. Did not even give his name. He sat in Simon
's house, ate there and did not come out. He came yesterday alone and will go today.
5th of July FIRST PLANTING OF GUINEA-CORN.
ARCHIBALD
told Howie
to fix and clear a mound near the entrance of his compound. Archibald
, Howie
, Adrian
and another man from Adrian
's compound. were there. When the mound fixed, Archibald
planted guinea-corn. He then took Guli grass Guir and yui leaves. He hit each of men present on breast with Yui leaves and had them bite off a small bit. He gave each a bit of guir leaves. He planted a stake of bamboo and tied guli grass on it. And also stuck some in the ground. Howie
handed him a small ear of corn. Archibald
told him it had to be cooked. So he went to her forge and put it in fire for a few seconds. Then Archibald
held it and the 3 in turn took a bite and spat it out. Howie
ended by eating it all. The corn was carried inside a basket of guinea-corn seeds. Archibald
asked "(This part of ritual) How corn had got into basket?" and then he said they could eat it and guinea-corn would not spoil. When he hit them with Yui leaves, he said that if they jumped over ridges of guinea-corn it would not hurt their stomachs. He tied guli grass on basket, saying that if man tried to spoil guinea-corn then the grass would catch him. Archibald
says he makes medicine for Adrian
today so that he can plant his guinea-corn, will make it for others tomorrow. He says he will make it for Frederick
. Adrian
is the 1st to plant guinea-corn. When the new corn is 1st eaten one ear is put in the centre of compound where medicine is grown.
July 5th - Adrian
's FARM -
Margaret
, Harold
's daughter, was the 1st to plant guinea-corn on Adrian
's farm. Harold
cut sticks and this dictated choice. It could as well have been a married woman. any woman of family could be chosen. Guinea-corn planted on same ridges as corn.
Frederick
says he will plant guinea-corn when field ready. He will go to Archibald
to have medicine made. He says lots of people know medicine but big people agree to have Archibald
make it as his father made it before him. He said Thor
will probably make it when Archibald
dies. Frederick
says that the medicine he makes for the man from Tscharl whose feet hurt him was called Ndam. He bought it from his father for £2. Some give him 2, some 3 sh. To make it. He also eats part of the chicken from which medicine is made Adrian
and Archibald
also have it in Ndiel. The big ant told the man to come to Frederick
MARRIAGE - by John
- July 6th
If a woman married by exchange steals her husband has to pay. If by bridewealth, her brother is responsible. The son of bridewealth steals: the father may help, but mo's bro's responsible. In case of bridewealth marriage, when 1st daughter marries for bridewealth it goes to her fa. if he has paid. When 2nd daughter marries it goes to mo's bro. The 3rd goes to fa. The 4th is shared between the 2. The son of a bridewealth marriage is helped to marry by fa. but only because he wants to. Mo's bro. must help.
DIVORCE - JOHN
-
If woman wants to leave her husband she goes to fa's compound and from there she may be taken by new man. Divorce can be had by merely leaving husband and going to fa's. Normally husband goes to fa. Tries to get her back, but if she refuses he can do nothing. Now because of court if your wife leaves, you claim bridewealth and children, but previously you did not claim bridewealth because if you did they would call you bad man. The court giving children and bridewealth back is an innovation. Recently bride's parents take nothing until 2 children born. except cock and spear. These 2 are symbols of marriage. In case of elopment, these 2 things are given as soon as possible. The spear is very long and not used for hunting. Used only for display and getting woman.
Marriage John
July 6.
A man cannot marry anyone that his wife calls sister. If your wife dies it still is impossible to marry anyone that called sister. A divorced wife cannot marry into her ex-husbands family, that is anyone her husband called brother.
If husband dies then younger brother or older brother can marry his wife. The father cannot. John
would not wish to marry one older than himself though not prohibited. Children cannot marry deceased father's wives. Jack Kennedy
would marry John
's wife if he died and he had been married by exchange. Widow should agree, but if her paired wife is still alive she may refuse and the paired marriage is broken, but if paired women has died then widow will be forced to stay and marry her husbands "brother". Sometimes if widow refused to marry a brother, and paired wife still alive, they allowed the latters husband to pay bridewealth and remain with his wife, and any consequent children will belong to wife's family. In case of exchange marriage if one wife dies, the other cannot leave under any condition unless a sister of hers is given as a replacement.
At first marriage brideprice is highest. Decreases each time of remarriage. The bride says how much it is to be, but father can say if it is too much or too little.The range is from £2 to £8. In first marriage ranges from £6 to £8.Bride price given to the father and is his. £1 or more given to mother according to brides instructions. The latter is not recoverable under any condition
From ANDREI
ON MARRIAGE JULY 6.
Anita
- Yambap Bridewealth. He gave £4 to father, that is man acting in loco parentis as father dead. Anita
told him she wanted to live in Mverrup, he refused so she left him. Went back to Yambap and died there. Had a daughter called Lucy
about 6 who lives with her mother's mother at Yambap. Did not ask for any money back.
2nd wife. Astrid
Tiker. Phil
who is dead was her father. He has given £1.10 sh has to give £2 more. No children. She had been married to Manley
before he lives in Dyson
s compound. She bore three children there all died. Left Manley
and married Andrei
.
STEWART
ON MARRIAGE.
Stewart
paid 4 shillings for chair. 4sh. for hair do. Nicholas
sen £5 as this was requested but father sent it back saying he would ask for it later. Her younger sister set the amount.
MARTIN
ON MARRIAGE
He has given no money as her maternal and paternal kin are arguing who is to get it. Her older sister married and her father took the money. Now mother's family want the money for her. Her father and mother married by bridewealth. No discussion yet as to amount. She has been married once before. She left him because she was ill with him and her one child died. She bore two children with Martin
on boy one girl, both died. Bride price for her first marriage set by her younger sister.
HAROLD
PLANTING GUINEA-CORN FOR FIRST TIME JULY 7
he made small mound in corn field then threw in some guinea-corn. Then planted calabash of guinea-corn beer. Then place a number of medicine leaves on it.
RODNEY
S FIRST Guinea-corn PLANTING JULY 8
Made a small round mound on cleared field, no corn. Abraham
had been carrying short pointed stake of bamboo. Rodney
makes a slit in it and places guli grass in slit. Then planted it in ground. Took small calabash of guinea-corn beer, took sip sprayed it over mound three times. Then buried it. Sliced up gourd and put it around stake. Then rain fell and we hurried to shelter. When rain stopped Rodney
and Abraham
returned to farm. In a corner of the field where corn already planted Rodney
fixed a mound, and called Abraham
. Abraham
took seeds and told father "to let him work" Father said work. This is part of ritual. He sowed seeds an covered it. Brought gourd to his father who sliced it, put it on mound where guinea-corn planted and placed medicine leaves on it. Grasses planted were Guli, Tu, Purup, Njum, Lebir, Nge, Manajo, Qualap, Ga, Chamvur, Njuwuli, Lum, Walup, Tip. Aubrey
says if a few forgotten it does not matter. It best to bring all your medicines but if not all it doesn't matter. When medicines planted neither Rodney
nor Abraham
said anything. Rodney
then went into middle of the field to make some medicine. He said that he preferred if we did not follow him, this medicine should not be seen by anybody, it is made to protect guinea-corn against witches.
Rodney
's daughter began to sow Tin seeds rather haphazardly, his wife took seeds and began to sow them again. Rodney
took basket of guinea-corn seeds and began sowing them walking up an down the ridges. His wife and daughter followed him covering seeds with earth.
JULY 7 ARCHIBALD
MAKES MEDICINES SO THAT CERTAIN PEOPLE CAN PLANT GUINEA-CORN.
Today he made it for Rodney
, Harold
, Dyson
, Caspar
, Manley
, Gregory
. Made it on same place and in same way as he did to Adrian
as described above.
JULY 8 ARCHIBALD
MAKES MEDICINE SO THAT CLIFFORD
CAN PLANT GUINEA-CORN.
Archibald
held Clifford
s hand and showed him how to use hoe. Clifford
took some of his seed and gave to Archibald
, both of them sowed it, then Archibald
took some leaves and hit Clifford
on chest with them and then placed them on the mound. Archibald
took Guli grass, planted some on mound and tied some to basket. Archibald
held out leaves which Clifford
bit on and spat out twice. Then Archibald
held out ear of corn which Clifford
had brought and Clifford
bit and spat then ate normally. He gave what he did not want to eat quite casually to Clifford
. Clifford
, Archibald
and I only adults there. No ritual attitude. Archibald
gave Clifford
a bit of mud from mound which Clifford
took away with him.
CLINT
PLANTING GUINEA-CORN JULY 8
First made a small mound about a foot high and a foot long. He had forgotten calabash for putting beer in so he sent for it and spent time clearing a bit of other field. Pippa
brought it. When it came he poured beer in, went to mound, threw in a few seeds of guinea-corn then half-buried calabash. Then went to get grass that he has forgotten. This grass then planted. He said nothing during the procedure. Only Clint
did the medicine. Simon
's wife, Pippa
, his other daughters and a small child were there. Simon
l strolled in after medicine finished. Clint
took leaf and waved it over basket containing guinea-corn seed muttering something and saying Kissum. He then sowed seed and covered it himself.
JOHN
ON MARRIAGE. JULY 8
The first three days girl is married she does not grind flour. Gets her flour from her husband's mother. As soon as the next crop is in the bridge takes part of her husbands as her own, she can sell part if she wishes. When a man gets married usually his father gives him extra farms, but if his father has not enough he can beg from other people. Bride is ashamed in front of bridegrooms parents. Spends most of time at beginning with grooms mother and they can converse quite freely. Often she does not talk to groom's father for about a month, but there is no ritual prohibition against so doing. The father may talk to her, but she will make her answers as brief as possible. With older bros. Too she is ashamed but with younger ones she is free. Bride expected to help grooms mother, and work with her. Theoretically the first wife has some authority over second.
NYAP SAYS
Fulani have medicine to turn into stick or stone if they are being chased. Also both he and John
say they have medicine so that knife or spear can't hurt them, also can make person that they are chasing fall down through medicine. Most Mambila believe Fulani are dangerous as they have many good medicines.
July 8.
ARCHIBALD
MAKES SPECIAL MEDICINE TO KEEP ILLNESS FROM HIS COMPOUND WHILE HE PLANTS GUINEA-CORN.
Gave Guli grass to all women and children of the compound to throw on top of planted seeds, so that guinea-corn will grow well like Guli grass. He says all do this, which explains why they have Guli grass tied on basket of guinea-corn seeds. Today he made medicine for
Clifford
, Clint
, Robin
, Frederick
and Nathan
to plant their guinea-corn today.
Archibald
went to farm today to plant his guinea-corn with the members of his compound but he was back soon. Left about 11 back 1:30. The rest of the group stayed out on field.
July 8. Many people are making medicine in compound to make guinea-corn grow and to protect women against illness. The head man of the compound makes it.
NYAP JULY 9.
He had told me Theobald
was his father as he had taken him when Nyap was in arms. His real father died in Vokude and Theobald
married his mother. Nyap claims Theobald
treated him better than his real sons. If he had been Theobald
s son he could not have married Adrian
s daughter's daughter. Adrian
at Theobald
's death gave Nyap equal share of cargo. Nyap has same mother as Roland
and Neal
. But the fact that Nyap not Theobald
's son explains why Roland
got most of the medicines. Nyap in most respects acts as a member of Adrian
's man. His real father was Hywel
from Vokude. Is treated like a brother in Vokude.
JULY 9TH Gregory
's MARITAL WOES.
He is angry at his wife. When he sold some firewood she became angry at him. He tried to give his daughter from another marriage some food, to take to her home, but she wouldn't let him. He told us when corn beer is available somewhere she goes off to get some often does not come home in time to cook his food. He is looking for another wife and this makes her even angrier. He says that he told her to go away, but she wouldn't.
JOHN
MARRIAGE AND CHILDBIRTH
Mothers family has to make medicine for babies. They come and make medicine to take the child out of the house after father's family has done so. Husband gives them one chicken, corn beer and money if available, if not one or two native hoes.
Sisters of bride will bring firewood which groom has to pay for about 2 sh. This done if they don't live too far away, that is in same village.
If child is sick and father makes medicine and it fails then child should be taken to mothers kin to have medicine made
John
on SLAVERY AND GIVING OF PERSON.
In old times if you killed a man accidentally in hunting you give his family a sister. Usually this was a small girl, she might later be married by people themselves or exchanged. In the old days giving a man was not acceptable. John
says that he saw a case of this happen some years ago. John
heard that very long ago they sometimes have children for food in case of famine. Children would be called Quer = slave. Ninga they say is English word equivalent to Quer comes probably from Nigger.
BREACH OF INCEST RULES.
Rolf
has just married his "sister". Rolf
's mother and Fanta, the wife's name, father had same father. Wife comes from Kutin which is name of a tribe I believe.
JOHNSON
ON SLAVERY AND GIVING PEOPLE
If you kill someone in hunting by accident you give 2 girls about 8. You don't give a male. One of the two girls given is the first to wail for the dead. Prior to her arrival there is not mourning. He never heard of a case of a man killing another purposely and hence does not know what would happen. Renton
speared a man through the mouth, a person from Tigul. Boy did not die so Renton
did not pay anything. If victim does not die nothing paid. If woman killed by accident also paid 2 girls. Cited two cases one at Yambap one at Vokude, never heard of killing a woman on purpose. The two girls given are called Quer. He says person receiving slave may marry them. He says so none alive in Warwar was slave.
JOHNSON
ON JIR MEDICINE
He makes it for all four hamlets. Johnson
is very angry as Fulani say they want to cut trees from sacred grove to make canoes, he says that he cannot allow it and they must kill him first. If the trees were cut, corn and guinea-corn would never grow again. Ndarrup, Tiker, Ndiel, Tscharl and Tigul people would rather die than have them cut.
JOHNSON
gave the children the Guli grass that they are wearing around their necks, so that they will grow quickly, not be ill and guinea-corn will grow well.
Rolf
Discusses Generalities.
He says Mallam TAffi has not treated people well. When cows spoiled farms and Tin trees Fulani gave him dashes, the Mambila didnt and the Mambila got practically nothing. He said Sidney
stole money from Adrian
, both Ngam and Sasswood have said so. He denied it and threatened to summons Adrian
for defamation. Adrian
paid him five chickens not to sue him. Sidney
now trying to blackmail Rodney
. He says that he ill summons him unless he pays £3. He says that Rodney
had Caspar
s father given sasswood about twenty years ago as Caspar
s father was witching him. He died in ordeal. Rolf
says that they cut Haldane
s belly and found that he was a witch. He says all semi-acculaturated Mambila. cheat their brothers. Mentioned S. Zielinski
, Mallam Taffi, Sidney
and a Don Doka from Kabri. One Don Doka from Titon is supposed to be honest. All people are very afraid of going to court, even John
is terrified of idea. They would do almost anything to avoid it.
July 10th Titolup Medicine This is stick augury.
Today Frederick
cut sticks to find out whether I should marry Florence or not. He said that her parents don't agree, but that she wants to marry me. If we marry we shall have lots of male children, and he said that I should have no troubles going home. He took the sticks, carried two with jagged points, One was male and other female. Made a triangle with lines in the middle on the ground.
Blew tobacco smoke on the sticks and began to cut. As he cut he muttered questions. Would cut four pieces. If two pieces with bark come up and two with inside come up the answer is yes, if 3 and 1 the answer is no, but maybe, if 4 of one type the answer is definitely no. This can not be used if person has died in village until the wailing is over, that is second day after death.
FREDERICK
NUM KOLI MEDICINE JULY 10
Frederick
made Num Koli medicine for his sisters (same mother) child who had just been born. He took two bamboos stalks, put cocoyam leaves at bottom and poured in water and then put cocoyam leaves on top to keep water in. He then tied to stalks together and that was all. Two boys about 6 and 7 came from Ndarrup to get it and bring it to his sister. Father's family can make this medicine also. Child is given water to drink. It should be first water that he drinks, but if mother's family is far away, he can drink other water first, but must drink this. Frederick
not paid for this.
July 10th. From Ian
.
Igor
from Adrian
s compound was a thief, but he went to Ndarrup and there some man made medicine for him now he is cured. A few years ago Clifford
and Hermes
accused of stealing £10 and some native hoes. Ngambe and Sasswood said, that Clifford
was guilty, that is when it was tested by Tiker people. Theft was from Cahill
's family. Clifford
denied it and when he got his family to give sasswood his chickens vomitted. Palaver not fully settled when the son of Johnson
s wife got sick and admitted that he had stolen the things, as well as starting the fire that burned Cahill
's compound. He shortly died. The man was not Johnson
s son.
July 9th. Archibald
made guinea-corn medicine today for Reuben
, Bob
(Robin
s compound) Brett
, Ezra
, Charles
.
July 10th. Archie
made guinea-corn medicine for Garth
, Ron
, Nyap,Andrei
.
TIGUL (I think) RESIDENT. (Check in notebook)
Jimmy
says Gilbert
came here because Morris
, his father was in Harley
's family, Jimmy
's mothers family and he followed her. Gilbert
has not given money for Kalki, but gave cock and spear.
Orson
's compound. Debbie
mother of Owen
came back to her deceased husbands compound when Klaus
died to live with her son.
Jake
brought corn at Mbashoa as he is Nyena Nyu to Archibald
. His mother had same father as Archibald
.
Marmaduke
came to live with Bartholomew
who was his father's mother's brothers daughters son, as he was ill in Mbarr
Niall
makes guinea-corn medicine for Tigul
Man Theobald
is same Mana Hiram
. Hiram
was younger brother of Theobald
. Bartholomew
is son of Theobald
. All of Tigul fight together this includes the strangers. They act as unit. Bartholomew
was Kassala but because he became to old gave job to Niall
. (Later genealogy shows that Bartholomew
was son of Job
, who was son of Theobald
, who had brother Jeffrey
. Theobald
was son of Kelly
. All of Theobald
s sons other than Job
were taken by Fulani. Jeffrey
has many descendants in Tigul among others Milton
, Jake
, etc.
Emlyn
came from Yambap, says he still belongs there, though living in Tigul. His kin in Yambap helped him with bridewealth. Ronnie
gave him only a shilling. He has paid one pound five shillings and a cock and a spear.
July 10th Adrian
on Marriage
Adrian
says that the girl says how much bridewealth is to be. Father may say it it is too high or too low and veto it. Often bridewealth set too high and when it is brought after two children are born or one walks by himself, the father of the bride gives some back to groom. Adrian
says bridewealth should not be returned. In pre European times it was 5 or six native hoes. Adrian
thinks it bad to try and get it back.
ADRIAN
ON METAL.
In past used to get metals for making hoes form Titon people. The metal was in the form of native hoes, that is Titon people made the hoes. After hoes were no longer good, then they were made into spears. Used to pay about 3 chickens for a hoe to Titon people. Neither Adrian
, Gregory
or Archibald
know where Titon got hoes or iron. They used to buy shield from Mverrup, they would give two hoes for one shield. Frederick
says that they used to make thread and from this loin cloth. These they would sell in in strips of 6 for 2 hoes. They would sell them to Dembe, Titon, Mang, Koma. These towns did not know how to make cloth. Frederick
still sells a good deal of his production to foreigners. Recently sold some to Dembe. Frederick
and Archibald
say that cowrie shells were sometimes used for money.
July 14. DIVISION OF MISSION COW.
Cutting up cow were Hugo
(Tiket) Robin
(Ndiel) Kent
(Tigul) York
(Tscharl) The first thing cut was stomach and underparts. Ian
says that this will be given to chief to be eaten by big people. Kassala from Tscharl said one back leg to Tiket and Ndiel one foreleg to Tscharl and Tigul. Wakili does much of butchering. Rathbone
gives many instructions, but when we asked him what part he would get he said big people would decide. Actually Rathbone
seemed to make many decisions. Internal pts. all divided according to his directions and no one complained. The internal pts. divided equally among all hamlets. Rathbone
given heart and tail. Obidiah
given head. They were going to give it to him with the neck on but the Kassalas from Tscharl said that they must cut neck off and divide it otherwise perhaps some might not get meat.
Meat for Ndiel divided in Frederick
s compound the next day. Most given to those who worked, according to the number of days that they worked. Chest divided between Archibald
, Frederick
and Adrian
. Most cutting done by Robin
. Frederick
divided the chest into 3. One young man was forgotten and he was given part of big man portion. The liver was given to big men. Frederick
offered Dyson
a part of the big mans meat, but he refused. Cadogan
, Clint
, Ibrahim
, and Dyson
given a part of big mans meat, as gift not through right. Frederick
is the one who gave these gifts. Not much excitement. As a rule only one man from each compound present, and he took meat for all compound. However each part was named as belonging to a special person a man who had worked. Big men, that is the three got as much as anyone, that is a person who had worked for the three days.
JULY 15th. IAN
's COMMUNAL FARMING
Only women had appeared by 12:30 with exception of Ian
. Hoed out weeds and broadened ridges for guinea-corn. Corn now about six feet high, and is growing about three feet apart. It is planted in ridges going N.S. Ridges are about 1 1/2 feet wide when widened for guinea-corn and about 1 ft. high Men came about 1:30. Six men and 2 women, these came from Gembu were brothers of the man who married Ian
's sister. They came singing song saying that Ian
had called them and they had come. They called me Guanama as in this context Ndiel people are their in laws. They marched straight through the field greeting no one, went directly to corn beer pot, sat down drank beer and chatted. They gave Ian
some of the beer. One of the men had made rain medicine. Gembu people called those neighbouring fields as well as women working on Ian
s field to come and drink. The girl that Gembu man married had same father but different mother from Ian
. The real brother in law started work first. He worked very hard as if under pressure.
July 15. JOHNSON
SAYS {on land}
Younger people help older ones with food, because younger ones were fed older ones when small. If his younger brothers did not help him on his farms he would be vexed but could not make them do so.
Johnson
says that big people own all of the farms. Marcus
has farms but he, Johnson
, showed them to him. He says that he showed Nyap where to work. Palm wine trees divided in same way, Johnson
says he owns them all as he is the big man. If they sell palm wine must give him part of the money or they will give him part of wine if they drink it. When the oldest man dies the next oldest get all of the farms and he distributes according to needs. Long time ago sold farms but no more.
When I told him that Ian
had said that he could sell his land even if Frederick
did not agree, he said maybe this was so, but if he did this Frederick
or his successor would not give many farms to Ian
's sons to work when he died.
Johnson
says that big people show men farms for the three year cycle. After this he can shift them around, if he wishes. Johnson
thought of doing this, that is shifting S. Zielinski
, Elton
and Marcus
out when they gave him trouble, but decided against it or they would go away and this he did not want. He said if he had done so they would have gone to their father's place. He says that he has heard of older brothers taking farms away from their juniors, but he doesn't want to talk about it as this is bad fashion.
JULY 15-16 IAN
's CORN BEER COMMUNAL FARMING CONTINUED.
Ian
's in laws stayed all night and will work farms today. Ian
gave them corn beer after work finished. Singing lasted until late into night. Ian
gave 14 pots and a small cock and some of the meat that he had gotten from Mission work. They worked until 3:30 before going back to Gembu. Worked on mounds and planted guinea-corn.
JULY 16 HANDICRAFTS.
Adrian
s wife says that she gives him 3d for fixing handles on carrying basket which she sells. To the best of my knowlwedge she has made 9 in past and one and a half months. She sells them for 2sh 3d to 2sh 6d. When asked whether women should work farms or not, she said that it would be bad if they didn't, also said that it would be bad if men didn't work them also.
JULY 16, FINLAY
MAKES CORN BEER.
He has made 15 pots of beer for Kwurum which is coming to work his farms tomorrow.
LAND TENURE ADRIAN
JULY 16
The mountain belonged to Jules
and the farms to big men of Frederick
s family. Erik
, Maurice
then Frederick
. Jules
died then Thornley
was big man.
If water spoils farms he calls all of his kin group to come and fix it. If a member of his family does not have enough he shows him some more farms. When Jules
came no one else was here and he took land that he wanted. He says that Frederick
s big father and his came at same time. They came from Kwabira during period of Fulani troubles.
He showed Garth
farms which later Garth
showed to Martin
. Garth
gives him nothing. Nyap was given farms by Theobald
to work by Adrian
. He knows that long ago bought and sold farms, but that was before his time. He says if Archibald
,Gregory
, Aubrey
, Herbert
, etc., want to sell farms they must ask him. He cannot sell his without consent of big men of kin group.
JULY 16. YESTERDAY ARCHIBALD
MADE GUINEA-CORN MEDICINE FOR CADOGAN
. THIS FINISHED EVERYONE
JULY L_ ARCHIBALD
ON LAND TENURE
Archibald
says that he doesn't have to ask anyones permission to sell his farms. When asked whether he would ask Adrian
he said not with emphasis. Thor
has bought farms from Edward
. He paid four hoes. He then sold a half of it as it was a big farm to Jonathan
from Yambap for 2 hoes. Jonathan
gave it to Desmond
his real sister's son when she wed Cosmo
. She bore Adrian
and Gregory
. Now Gregory
works this farm.
JOHN
ON WOMEN.
All Mambila men like women, no permanent homosexuals. One man at Mang never got married. His name was Curt
. He burned his hand in a fire and could not work farms, so women would no marry him, even though he tried to marry some.
Boys before getting married have wet dreams, they dream of sleeping with women. Some masturbation is known though practiced alone, that is no mutual masturbation. It is neither good not bad. No sex play between two men. Doesn't know whether women masturbate. Women have dreams of intercourse. When he was younger he used to dream he was sleeping with women. Never dreams of sleeping with mother or sisters. One boy at Mang dreamt that he was sleeping with mother and this shook him. He told people in house and refused to go back to sleep that night.
No word for masturbation. Girls not allowed to ask man to sleep with them. Coitus interruptus practiced to avoid having children before marriage but rarely done and looked askance upon. Parents not vexed if unmarried girls have children. Not bad thing to sleep with girl before marriage.
FINLAY
's KWURUM JULY 17TH
The work was to broaden mounds in preparation for planting guinea-corn. In broadening the mounds the weeds are covered but not necessarily removed.
Participants: Alexander
(Brett
s compound.), Jess
from Vokude, Alkali (Herbert
s) Mavis
(Tscharl Fytton
s compound) Catriona
(Ezra
s) Barry
(Caspar
s compound) (Joseph Keen
s compound in Mission) Thor
(Archibald
s) Denzil
(Adrian
) Denzil
is trying to win special cup by working very hard. Discussion between Denzil
, Nash
and Barry
, they count number of ridges that each has done. Denzil
did not work but there is some argument and Barry
claims that he did more. Finlay
ignores argument. Mainly discussion between Denzil
and Njurala. Count number of ridges each did.
The Kwurum includes, Ian
, Finlay
, Herbert
, Thor
, Denzil
, Buchanan
, Gelngui, Lindsey
, Caspar
and Ezra
July 17. Jed
returned from Mbamga saying he likes it better here as he is better fed.
July 17 Kwurum for FINLAY
Herbert
drank first, Ezra
second, 3rd Joseph Keen
, Ian
, Denzil
, Buchanan
, Thor
, Caspar
, Reuben
, Finlay
. They brought enormous pot holding about seven normal pots. Began to drink from this before giving pot to big men. Kwurum members drank from a very big calabash holding three times normal amount. 2 pots given to big people.
EXCHANGE MARRIAGE JULY 17 Frederick
Reason prefer exchange is children belong to father. He wants exchange restored. Usually exchanged full sister, however can also exchange real brothers children, this only true if parents exchange. Some women married with bridewealth some with exchange. A man could not exchange real daughter to get for himself, but could exchange daughter to get wife for younger brother. Would exchange more than one sister and get several wives, but not more than two.
Your younger brother had preference in inheriting your exchange wife, but if non-available any kinsman could inherit her. Big people of kin group would tell her who to marry. Usually widow agreed but if she did not and paired marriage still in existence then it was broken. Big man of kin group had to agree to exchange. Andrei
could use Lucas
or Parker
's daughter but these two would have to agree. No gifts given in exchange, but chicken cooked for groom if he comes to visit. Prospective groom would send a sister, to ask father of girl to let him marry daughter, would not ask big man of kinship group first. The prospective groom might send girl he wished to exchange on this errand or another sister.
Selling into slavery
Long time ago of someone did many bad things, he would be sold into slavery. Father could sell his children but big man of kin group had to agree. A man would be sold for 80 hoes, a small boy for 60. Father would give big man some of hoes. They did not eat slaves. Doesn't know anyone in Warwar who was slave or whose father or mother was slave.
FREDERICK
S COMMUNAL FARMING. work party
Yambap came as they are brothers of his wife, his wife from Yambap.
July 20 Bridewealth of Karel
.
Worked farms many times for his wife Abigail
.
Gave 20 chickens, £2 and small presents to her sisters. Gave cock and spear. Hasn't finished giving all to father, will give him £2 more. His father helped him in raising bridewealth. His first wife was Eliza
from Vokude she is Andy
s sister. Then he married Abigail
. Then he married Brenda
daughter of Bartholomew
. She died. His first wife Linda
did not conceive and was vexed as other two wives did so she left him. He says he may try and take Linda
to court to try and get some cargo back. He gave her family £5, and is going to ask just for the £5, even though he gave her brothers and sisters other gifts, as well as cock and spear which he will not claim back. He wants some of the bridewealth back as she bore him no children. They were separated two years ago, she is now married to Todd
at Vokude, has conceived there.
July 20 THE ROLE OF THE DOGARI AS TOLD ME BY HOLDER GERALD
When chief tells people to work he supervises. Warwar made him Dogari. His father was Dogari also made by Denis
, his father was Jan
. Have not paid him yet. Dogari is not family property. Tries to keep people silent when Rathbone
drinks, but does not do this for Gregory
. He says that he is Obidiah
s brother.
He says that he can work farm like all of the people as job of Dogari does not take much time. Sometimes goes with chief when he goes on errands and sometimes he doesn't depending on the farming situation. He is older than Obidiah
. Has to buy his own red robe. He is the man who gave me the names of the months in Mambila, taught him by his father, few people know them, but Cahill
does. Deverell
, Harry
are living ex Dogaris.
DISTRIBUTION OF WIVES. IN NDUAL
33 men with one wife, 6 with two.
EXCHANGE MARRIAGE.
Graeme
says that he would like exchange marriage to come back so that he could keep all of his children. When marriage is by bridewealth mother's family can claim at least one.
NATHAN
SAYS
When the big Theobald
of Tigul died they called Rolf
's father when he born Theobald
. Gwyn
father of Nathan
the first grandfather of Theobald
lived in Tigul, but came down to live in Ndiel and bore Nathan
here. Father of Gwyn
was Lebir. He says that Jules
was of Gwyn
s family but doesn't know how.
July 21 Marital Relations.
A man from Mang told John
that very recently a woman got angry with her husband. She gave him their child to hold and then hit him with a stick and her fists. He put the child down and then gave her a sound thrashing. The next day he was very ill. They are consulting big ants to see whether she bewitched him. After he got ill, she went to her father's village with the child. I asked John
to ask the fellow whether the ant had said that husband or wife was witch. John
reluctant to ask but under pressure did. Question greeted with laughter, as evidently such questions not asked outside of the family. If your brother, sister or wife is witch you don't tell others. The man concerned in wife beating is a brother of John
as well as of the boy who told us the story.
Cadogan
of Trees.
Land on which Rolf
placed his compound belongs to Cadogan
, Cadogan
gave him permission to use it but told him not to cut down trees. Later told him could cut down trees, but not use wood. Rolf
had trees cut and used wood. Cadogan
is vexed, has put medicine on the wood that remains so Rolf
won't use it.
Cadogan
says that he has a full sibling, male, in Yola. Both he and this man used to trade colas from Bamenda to Yola. The brother stayed in Yola. His name is Dickie
, his Fulani name is Devlin
.
July 26
Ron
had corn beer party.
Archibald
had people come from Mverup to farm. He did not make corn beer as they are brothers of a man who married his daughter. He will cook chickens for them. 9 people came to help Archibald
. Last night he killed a goat for them and one chicken. Today they will eat rest of goat and a chicken. They will work for him again tomorrow.
Clint
had 8 from Mverrup, 6 were brothers of man who will marry Pippa
, 2 girls about 17.
Alexis
from Dorofe, Petros
sleeps Kidjua's compound in Ndarrup. Petros
is the son of Frederick
s real sister. He married Alexis
's sister with bridewealth. They bore six children. Alexis
asked him for one and sent him to Muslim school. Petros
then sent same boy to Mbamga to learn about Christianity, However boy refused and fled back to Alexis
. Alexis
is Mambila, but has taken Fulani fashion. Alexis
summoned Petros
before Darius
. Darius
asked Petros
why he did not want to become a Muslim. Petros
said he did not want to. So Darius
told Alexis
to take back his sister and all five children which he did. Petros
has now lost all. Darius
told Alexis
not to give back bridewealth. The Wakili agreed to all of this. Petros
did not want his son to go to Muslim school and Darius
said not wanting son to go such a school cursed God and this is why he said Alexis
should take all of the children.
According to D.O. about a year and half ago Petros
decided he would become a Muslim. He went to Mallan to learn about it. He later gave it up. His wife continued wanting to become a Muslim
Discussion between Brett
s two wives.
The younger one was ill and didn't work corn much. The older said therefore she should not be given a share of crop. Adrian
, Brett
, Gregory
, Harold
, Ezra
, 2 wives, Thor
's mother, Ezra
s wife and sister of wife who was refused corn met in Ezra
's kitchen. Much talk. All argued that this was bad fashion and told second wife that she should give the other some of the corn. Harold
, Gregory
, Adrian
did most talking. They said that when the wife refusing to give corn's, her husband died Brett
's brother, they had let her keep all of the corn and guinea-corn. They all angry about her behaviour. Some say that she should be sent back to her family. Not one person agrees with her. The first wife, the younger son, had evidently gone back to her kin due to her illness during corn planting season. Wife refusing to give her corn is second wife. She tells why she is vexed. She says when she first came first wife did not want to give her corn. This time first wife did not work so she doesn't want to give her corn. Brett
stays silent. Adrian
says that she stole guinea-corn from Brett
s store and he is vexed. Then the first wife talked and gave her grievances. She is vexed because second wife stole Brett
's guinea-corn. First wife is Obidiah
s sister. First wife vexed because Brett
took four shillings from her to buy chicken for second wife. She is also vexed because Brett
made corn beer for second wife's brother but not for hers. Adrian
said Brett
acted badly. Until now Brett
had said nothing. During confessions no one interrupts. Adrian
gives history of marriage and says corn will be equally divided between two wives. The two kneel before Adrian
, and he says that they should not be vexed at each other. He repeats their grievances and says as they have confessed the medicine will not catch them. He sprinkles them with water and they are given bits of grass to eat. He spits on his little finger and then touches each on their breasts, the pours water through the hands of the two women. Adrian
, Gregory
, Harold
, tell Brett
not to make trouble between the two women. Brett
tell, Harold
, Gregory
, Adrian
to come and divide the corn.
July 28th. Frederick
, Clifford
and Martin
came to my house to discuss Tangana farm palaver, They are very disturbed as are all big people of village. Though it applies only to Tscharl the whole village is upset. Frederick
says in old days they would have fought to regain farms.
John
on MAN
John
says one can be of Man of mother if one lives in that town or Man of father if one lives in that town.
The use of the term owning children, father's group in case of exchange, mothers in case of bridewealth, means that the owning group inherits and is responsible in case person commits a crime. Person can not be buried until head of owning group is present. Nyap is big man of John
's group.iIf exchange broken children belong to mothers brother.
PEOPLE CARRYING CORN AND TYING IT FOR GELBON. JULY 31, 1953
Fixing corn. Nathan
, Nyap, Finlay
, Stott
, Cadogan
's wife, Ron
, Thor
, Caspar
, Kathleen
. Fixing of corn is cutting off the hairs and stripping back some of the covering and tying in bunches of four or eight ears. I saw Roland
, Warren
, Jack
, Abraham
and Howie
carrying baskets full. 7 young girls carried baskets including Harold
's daughter. Today they brought 26 baskets, seven more carried by girls making total of 33.
July 31. MEETING AT WARWARS COMPOUND
I had understood Frederick
to say that I could not come to medicine making, but this not so. He had meant that I had seen this medicine before and hence should not waste time. The meeting was held so that Obidiah
could report what he had learned in Gembu, what orders came from there. Then RATHBONE
rang bell over Obidiah
s head for guinea-corn. This was to protect Warwar guinea-corn
July 31 CHILDREN PLAYING
One dressed himself up with grass hiding his face, shoulders and arms down to the waist. He chased the others and flogged them if he caught them. I mistakenly held one, Terry
and called the one wearing the grass saying Shoa come and flog Terry
. Jed
who was wearing mask threw it off and ran away. I learned later that adult men beat them if they called their play masks shoas.
August 1 WARWAR MARKET
Dorothy
has sold a big carrying basket full of guinea-corn for 6sh. It was not hers, she was selling it for a friend. A man was selling small very nicely made baskets. First price 6sh. quickly went down to five but said could could go no lower as woman for whom he was selling had said this lowest possible price. 3 people from Gembu Petil came with medicine man. Went around him three times. Hit each of them with twig saying if witch tried to catch them the grass would kill them. 2 of people were men and one a woman. This was first time that they had come to market since bearing children. Beads that Mambila buy are 3d a string. Cassavas, bananas, plantains, salt, tobacco, matches, beads, stings, baskets, substance that they say tastes like meat but that they get from the ground, guinea-corn, corn, eggplants, dried fish palm oil all for sale in market today. I have yet to see a Mambila buying corn or guinea-corn or guinea-corn in market. One woman was going to buy 2sh worth from Dorothy
, but refused when the latter would not give her a big dash of guinea-corn. For first time I saw corn beer for sale at market. Be from Nathan
's compound and her friends brought 3 pots that she had made to sell market. Bororo women selling milk and butter. Six chickens also for sale, but none sold.
BLOOD BROTHERHOOD. Like Medicine.
Went by Foster
s compound. He was cooking chickens. This because a woman whose big big father had sworn blood brotherhood with Foster
s big big father had been cut and blood flowed while they were playing about. The man who swore pact from Gembu. Both parties must bring a chicken in this case medicine made and two chickens eaten.
August 2nd. Medicine made for Samuel Zielinski
.
Rathbone
, Gabriel
, Frederick
, Harry
, Zielinski
, Renton
, Bryce
, Johnson
, Cecil
here. Some argument as to whether it could start without Cahill
and Foster
. Frederick
said yes, Johnson
said no and sent for them. Johnson
is making this medicine so that Samuel
can stay. Foster
did not come. Johnson
rang bell. Samuel
began to talk. Frederick
stopped him saying that he wanted Samuel
and Johnson
to say why medicine being made. Bryce
said that he heard that Samuel
wanted to poison Obidiah
and wanted Samuel
to drink bell that he wouldn't. Frederick
says that it is better if Samuel
says everything that is bothering him and they will ring bell. Samuel
tells whole story of people begging him to be chief, as well as Schneider. Mallam Taffi wrote letter to Gembu to make him chief. No women here during this time. A few children about but Johnson
chased them away. This is all taking place on dance floor outside fence of Tiket. All quiet while Samuel
talks. Tiket people sit together, Tscharl and Ndiel people together. Rathbone
and Frederick
sit on same log. Frederick
interrupted once to ask what Mallam had told Samuel
not to go to Gembu when summoned, and Samuel
answered Mallam Taffi. Johnson
told Samuel
to hurry up as people wanted to go. Bryce
gives history of chieftainship. Cecil
says that he is vexed as he was not told everything beforehand. Cahill
, Cecil
and Frederick
argue, argue as to whether Cecil
should have been forewarned. Cahill
says that he was. Cecil
says that a long time ago big people had meeting alone before talking to small boys and agreed together. is angry because they don't do it still Cahill
agrees that 4 Kassalas and other big men should come together and discuss problems and then later meet small boys. John
told me it would be bad if women were present.
August 2nd. Taking medicine off of Samuel
.
Elton
and and Marcus
say if Samuel
goes they will go to.
Johnson
and Gregory
and Samuel
were here when took off Nya medicine. Gregory
took Du leaves, rubbed on Samuel
's forehead and that was all. Zielinski
gave him a chicken Samuel
talks some more and then says finished. Johnson
hits bell three times and hits ground with bell. He says if Samuel
tries to poison Obidiah
, if he tries to steal money Shoa will get him, Samuel
sits down. Women passed during meeting but covered their eyes.
Rathbone
says that he is not the one responsible for removing Samuel
. Johnson
rings bell. Cahill
says only good chiefs have been Denis
, Rudolf
and Tom
. Rathbone
says if any of his kin wrote letter to have John removed, that is that he was not Warwar man, that he should die. Big people said to Johnson
not to ring bell for this as Rathbone
should not swear for others. The big point of argument is somebody wrote letter saying Samuel
was from Tep and should not be chief. Nobody knows who wrote letter. Johnson
says if anyone comes to cut sacred trees Juju will catch them. Gabriel
says if anyone should try and witch Samuel
or Warwar Shoa will get them. Johnson
says if anyone tries to make trouble between the two Shoa will get them. If Johnson
says if someone tries to bewitch chickens, dogs or goats, Shoa will catch them. Plenty have died lately. Bell rung. Everytime he rings bell he touches ground with it.
AUGUST 2. KABRI FARM PALAVER
Terence
of Kabri, Elias
's father told me. Rowland
of Kabri is Terence
's brother. Rowland
's mother had same mother and father as Terence
's father.
Caretaker of cows in Valentine
, the owner is Magnus
who lives in Dorofe. Valentine
taking care of cows first time they are his corn. They ate it all, this year. He says that he planted it three times and cows ate each time. They put Valentine
in jail for 14 days and Rowland
received £1.4sh. When planted guinea-corns this year, cows came and spoiled ridges and trampled down guinea-corn. This happened less than a month ago. Same farm where they spoiled corn. First they told Alkali as Darius
in Banso, when Darius
came back they told him. Darius
sent messenger to look at farm. Messenger said that the Mambila must build a fence. Farm is down near water, but not near a watering place for cows. Lionel
(my friend) and Magnus
offered him 10sh not to work farm.
August 2nd.
Yesterday Be of Archibald
s compound sold corn beer. She said that she made 10sh 6d. Today 65 baskets of corn brought into Archibald
s compound. Yagis wife, Emily
sold only 4sh worth of beer has some left over.
Aug. 3rd. Kabri Farm Palaver.
Rowland
returned from Gembu He says.
Fred
, the doorkeeper of Darius
stopped him from seeing Darius
and Alkali and report cows had destroyed guinea-corn. He said that he could see neither Alkali or Darius
as he the doorkeeper had told him to build fence and he hadn't. So neither Alkali nor Darius
knows that guinea-corn has been spoiled.
August 5th.
Nyap says if he should die Roland
or Neal
would get his cargo and farms. When Nathan
dies Langley
, Roland
or Neal
will get his farms and cargo. Cadogan
would divide and would take a large share. When Alfred
died his mother's family was called, they divided it and gave some to Nathan
as well as other children. Mother's family took none of farms.
If Langley
died Adrian
would get some and he would divided it. Page
of Dyson
s compound says if he dies his father's brother will get all his cargo, this man from Ndarrup. Dyson
says if Page
dies he will get cargo.
Dyson
says if he dies, Murdoch
, Page
, Franco
(Murdoch
is his paternal 1/2 sibling) Isaac
, Manley
, Franco
would all get equal parts He says of Adrian
died he would divide and get a share. If he dies Adrian
will divide and take a small part, but give most to Dyson
s kids.
Adrian
says if Nyap dies Des
(Mverrup) would divide his cargo. Nyap and Des
paternal 1/2 siblings. Roland
and Neal
would get a part of his cargo, Adrian
would get some as he lives in Adrian
s area.
CHILDREN BY GERARD
If the mother dies and baby only one or two days old they bury it with mother, if no one to give it milk. Dyson
says if possible they give child to a woman who already has child, if woman has enough for two. Child can be given to a member of ma's family or pa's family or anyone to feed it. Can give to a second wife of father, but often they fear that the second wife would not feed it properly. Franco
of Dyson
s compound was given to his mother's mother to feed. She still had milk.
INHERITANCE.
Adrian
says if he dies, Iain
who had same father with him and lives in Ndarrup, Gregory
, Harold
and Rodney
would get some. Iain
would get most as he is oldest. Iain
lives in Ndarrup once lived here, was near to death and moved away. He was being bewitched but Adrian
says does not know who was doing it. Iain
would be big man for Man if Adrian
dies as he is second oldest. Iain
told me he was witched in Ndiel and hence went to Ndarrup. Marion
, his sister, same father but different mother witched him, Ngam told him. Has no family in Ndarrup. Marion
died because she was witch, not from sasswood. Adrian
called John
's wife Rachel
because Adrian
related to John
way back. Adrian
s mother came from John
mothers mothers family. John
cannot marry Adrian
s daughter. One can call wife the wife of a younger kinsman.
Frederick
on Inheritance
Mallam Taffi would get most of his cargo, Aylmer
would get some. Ian
, Clifford
, Benjamin
would get hold hoes, a chicken or a spear. Mallam Taffi, Aylmer
and Charles
would get most. Mallam Taffi would divide and get his palm wine trees. Mallam Taffi, Clifford
, Charles
Andrei
might get some farms.
JOHNSON
S GENEALOGY
His father Rudolf
from Tigul and mother Arke from Mverrup. His father's father Frank
from Tigul and the latters wife Maxine
from Tigul.
His parents married by exchange. His mother died first.
He says Karl
, Max
and Clint
were all brothers but doesn't know how. When Johnson
dies big man from man Max
would be Nyap. Nyap will divide cargo. The people from the two allied Man would get a part including Renton
and Henry
. He says that when he dies he will see members of his family that have died. He knows that they will give him food just before he dies, but doesn't know what they will look like. does'nt know whether there is punishment in after life, but doubts it.
August 6th. Dougal
had corn beer for those bringing in corn for him. About 90 baskets brought. All who brought it in were his relatives. Dougal
had made anti-rain medicine.
YIPCHI EATS MOLE
His mother's family have eaten mole for all times. Does not have medicine for those who eat it by mistake. Cahill
can't eat it. He ate it first when small at his mothers place and has kept on doing so ever since. He says all other Warwar people don't eat.
People who carried in corn for Adrian
. August 10, 1953.
Jake
, Jimmy
(Tigul) Christos
(Tigul) Kent
(Tigul) Carstairs
(Tigul) Bryan
, Theophilus
,Luke
, Rhys
, Artie
, Jason
, Lorcan
, Suge, Gerry
all above are Tigul people. Women who came, Delia
, Patricia
, Enid
, Jemima
, Eileen
, Rosamund
. All of these people came as Laurie
asked them too. He married Rosamund
Adrian
's child.
August 15.
Dion
is Sarkim Barki at Yilbene which is near Kabri and under Kabri chief. Jauru Belle cows ate his corn, Studley
was herdsman. This happened a month ago. One cow fell in canal that Man had made. Morgan
went to Gembu to report him for digging holes to catch cows. Cow died. Morgan
accused him of taking dead cow and eating it, Dion
said this lie. When Don Doka came he and Kabri chief and Don Doka found cow rotting in hole. Alkali put Dion
in jail for one night, then told him to pay Morgan
for cow. He gave him a female cow 6 years old that he had. Morgan
told him that he must leave the area. While in Gembu cows ate all of his crop. Morgan
has been spoiling his farms for five years, Tin has been spoiled. He claims that his father always planted this farm and that previous Fulani did not touch it.
Aug. 15. Nam Kol and Tschuk medicine.
Today they are to make these medicines for Charles
s daughter. Afterbirth buried right by the side of the house. Hole is dug by either man or mothers or fathers family depending who happens to be around. Must be dug by a family member and a male but age does not matter. The hoe which digs hole is left on the rock covering the hole. Handle taken from the blade. Hoe cannot be used until Namkol and Tschuk medicine is made or child will die. Ezra
is to make Namkol and Clifford
to make Tschuk. Reuben
came with Ezra
. Ezra
takes a bunch of Lebir, Tu and Guli grass in the house. Pulls mother out of house by means of leaves. Husband and wife sit on stool. Ezra
takes string from Ezra
s neck and from his wifes, and ties on childs neck. Corn beer and red ochre brought from house by Charles
. Umbilical cord has fallen off baby. Charles
pours out a small calabash of corn beer gives it to Ezra
, who helps him drink some. Then they both drink and he sprays on grass that is tied to spear on roof of house. Then they pull spear out. Then they take grass off spear, Charles
sweeps compound with it going backwards and throws it in bush. Ezra
takes Bol grass puts leaf in Charles
s mouth and cuts off a bit of his hair, does same for wife and child. Blade with three bits of hair given to Lorna
, a girl in compound. Ezra
touches the 3 on forehead, chest, and navel, with right index finger which is covered with oil and red ochre. Then Charles
does same for himself and wife. Ezra
waves guli grass over both head of parents. same {sic} Kissum that they should have many children and that if someone comes to bewitch the child he must die. Ties a bit of guli grass around the neck of the three. The grass guli, tu, lebir are tied up together and two chicken feathers are stuck in. These are given to wife. As he does this he says guli will look after children and bad sickness will not come. Wife gives baby a bit of European salt. Lorna
shares cup of corn with Cosmo
and wife this so that he can share beer in future with people. Much laughter during whole performance. A small grindstone brought and mother grinds. This is first grinding since baby born. Beckett
sweeps out the house, then sweeps compound. This so he can sweep in the future, He then hits dog. Water poured in tiny calabash by Ezra
. Water thrown on roof, caught by mother in hand and fed to child so that now child can drink rainwater and not cry. Basket brought with hoe in it. Beckett
gets spear and cutlass. Ezra
gives Beckett
spear and cutlass and wife given big carrying basket. Ezra
leads Beckett
and wife out of compound. Blows whistle twice. Just outside digs small hole with knife then digs other small holes, canal joining them; holes about 2 inches deep. Ezra
puts a spear on each side of hoe, pours corn beer in top hole and let drain the lower one. Scrapes a bone over beer and lower hole. Beckett
drinks, Wife puts drop on index finger and feeds it to baby. Guli grass put in 2 holes then they are filled up. Ezra
does this and once this is done stamps on it, leaving 2 ends of guli grass sticking out. Wife and husband then stamp on hole and Ezra
hits them with end of spear on forehead and chest saying bad sickness will not come to them nor child. Coral
takes child big palaver as she is supposed to bring child in compound singing and she is embarrassed. Finally she comes in muttering not really singing. They send her out they say she must sing. She comes back singing this is so that child will sing well. She was given salt by mother and took it right away. She was supposed to ask for more and when she did not people laughed. Ezra
ties Tu and Bol leaves on end of 2 spears. They are put in fire. This so that bumps will not appear on child's head. Ezra
squeezes the leaves after they have been in fire and puts a bit of juice into mouths of husband, wife, and child head. Clifford
did not appear to make Tschuk; he said he had farmwork to do.
Aug 15th -
Met Clifford
on farm. He had caught 4 birds by placing gluey substance on branches of a tree which traps birds. It looks like raw rubber.
Aug 15th -
In afternoon I watched children being pulled down hill in front of Rolf
house on large leaves, Neal
was doing most of the pulling. I left. About 15 minutes later I heard crying. Went up Archibald
was standing with large branches in hand. Gareth
was crying as he had just been whipped. Archibald
was arranging Neal
who had run away. Archibald
had come, seen boys play They were Johnnie
, Brian
, Terry
, Ellis
and Gareth
. He was angry as in sliding down hill they uprooted tin trees. He had rushed in and only caught Gareth
who is about 3, Neal
had told him not to flog Gareth
as he was too small. Archibald
got mad and hit Neal
with stick. Marks visible 2 hours later. Neal
had run away and there was much shouting but he had not raised a hand against Archibald
. Later John
said that if he had he would have had to bring Archibald
a fowl. No supernatural sanction but big people would have harried Neal
if he had not brought fowl. Jed
has gone to stay with Mallam Taffi's mother at Ron
compound. To avoid Archibald
.
Aug. 15th - Tschuk medicine FOR BECKETT
's daughter
CLIFFORD
goes to entrance of compound. Beckett
hands him spear. Griffith
says: You give spear for Tschuk, chicken for Tschuk and cornbeer for Tschuk. You will bear many male children, bad sick will run away. Clifford
ties grass over entrance of compound. He spits cornbeer over grass and Beckett
does same then go to spit on house repeating what they said on gate. Return to gate and rub grass over gate with index finger. Clifford
says now you touch grass with Tschuk, bad sick will not come into compound. They then wait for wife and child to come out. She comes out with child and Clifford
waves guli grass over 111 3 of their heads. As he waves grass he says: if witch comes, grass will kill him. Then guli grass tied in with namkol grass and in a bundle. All is repeated 3 times throughout the ritual. He then hands her grass and she drops it. Clifford
gives it back saying if she forgets grass child will not die, this done 3 times. He then ends by saying if she lets someone carry baby, give him first to guli grass to carry, so if he wants to witch baby, guli grass will kill him.
At the beginning there was a reference to a chicken but his purely symbolic as Beckett
only gave him chicken feathers.
Aug 16th - BIG ARGUMENT AT ARCHIBALD
's
Adrian
very vexed. As he says he called all people to come and clean rest house and roads and Dyson
compound did not come. He stomped, fussed and fumed. All young men laughed at him. He walked off in rage. Few minutes later he came back and sat in corner. At time, big people were talking about my house. Some vexed I had given 2 sh. To Adrian
and nothing to Dyson
. Wrong as house did not fall into Adrian
's duties.
PUTTING NEW HEADS ON MAN DRUM - Aug. 20th
Ezra
and Njuralla were putting heads on their man drum. This must be done in bush, because if woman saw it, they would become deaf. Area in bush is surrounded by some medicine grass. No one but those knowing medicine can touch it during fixing periods. Drum half buried in ground. Skin is tied to top and rocks hang from it keeping it taut. Stakes are driven into ground and tied to skin to keep it taut. From time to time stakes driven further into ground to tighten head. Head rubbed with water. When tight enough hammer skin with little wooden spikes to hold skin on drum. The whole started by iron spike and then wooden spike hammered in. Cow skin used on woman drum. Antelope skin on man drum. If people call one and one is in bush fixing drum, one must not answer, but one can call others from here. If one does not know medicine and touches drum then the drum wont talk fine. Drum finished and taken out. Then Njuralla rubbed it with Mbam. He says that if man sleeps with girl to whom he is not married and beats drum it will not spoil after having been rubbed with Mbam. Then says when drum beats all will dance. Then rubs top with red ochre and repeats all this.
AUG. 20th - STUTTERING = Till.
No treatment, no penalty. Can easily marry even if stutters; starts about age of 3 or 4. People may laugh at you but they laugh at all infirmities. Most of those who stutter compensate by speaking slowly and distinctly. Gregory
's wife stutters as well as Warren
.
Clifford
on ANCESTORS AND DEAD -
Nam are the dead. When they come they make people sick. Palm oil and chicken cooked and put in basket. Ancestors come to eat it. They look like red insects with teeth. When inside they close basket and put it in fire to kill ancestors. Trouble finished. Nam is one name used for ancestors. Tschang is used for God. This is man who made world. Namso man is the one who drives away Nam. Nam punishes sin such as disobeying orders of dead people. Clifford
does not know where they live nor whether they help for farm. He then told me about dead offering food to dying.
Clifford
and John
on SASSWOOD AND WITCHES -
If a witch agrees that he is witching someone, they ask him to make medicine to stop sick. If victim dies anyway, palaver finished. No recompense given. Only if a person admits 2 or 3 times to be witching people then maybe made to drink sasswood. If vomits palaver finished, Clifford
and John
say that they would not fear to drink sasswood as they know they are not witches. Frederick
, Gerard
, Clifford
's father all drank sasswood and lived. Shane
, Toby
, Lou
and Clifford
's mo. all died from sasswood. These are only people from Ndiel Clifford
knows who died. Clifford
's mo. witched Lou
. Lou
witched V. Zielinski
's children. Shane
witched his own children. Toby
witched Iain
and his wife. These now live in Ndarrup.
Aug. 24th - Clifford
on INHERITANCE
When Clifford
dies Clint
, Grant
, Ian
, V. Zielinski
, Craig
, Irving
and Lyndon
of Kara are the ones who will take his cargo. Lyndon
of Kara is Irving
's real brother. He says that Frederick
will not take part of cargo. Clifford
says that a man called Noel
Dembe was fa. of Reardon
as well as of Marlon
; Noel
was born in Dembe but came here to live. Clifford
says Duncan
not fa. of Reardon
. Gawain
was older than Melvin
. He married at Kila for money. She was given to Dunstan
of Mverrup. They had no children. This explains why Raymond
1st, then Clint
now live in Mverrup.
Aug 24th - Griffith
on BLOOD BROTHERHOOD.
Clifford
's ancestors drank blood with Claude
of Taschemir, a hamlet of Dorofe. This was to make peace and prohibits marriage between them. Adrian
's ancestor was asked to give Claude
a wife which he did. This was to close tie with Ndiel. Claude
and this sister had lots of children. One was Craig
's fa. Claude
's daughter married Gil
. They bore Ken
and Lewis
Ken
sold Claude
's children for chop during war. Ken
bore Lyndon
, Craig
, June
, etc. Gawain
asked Ken
how he could sell Claude
's sons. Ken
living in Tiker in that time. Ken
then said he would live with Gawain
.
NGRIPPE PALAVER, TOLD BY NYAP.
Mother of Charlie
was born by Veronica
, Nyap's mo. Mortimer
is fa. The latter wants Charlie
. Susan
, full sister of Veronica
, and only one, want Charlie
to marry in Vokude and help her. Nyap wants her to marry here and help him. Charlie
wants to marry Simon
. Susan
wants to take Charlie
as does Mortimer
. Nyap still has her. Mortimer
wants cock and spear. He knows he has no right as he paid no bridewealth for Alison
, mo. of Charlie
. - Alison
is dead. Ezra
's wife's fa. was Norman
who was Veronica
's full brother. Norman
had tried to exchange Veronica
but she always ran away. Norman
now dead. That is why Nyap says Susan
is even though a woman big person for him. When Ezra
gave bridewealth it was given to Nyap. Simon
gave £3 to Susan
. When groom wanted money Nyap was vexed Veronica
had 5 sons and 2 daughters. Susan
had 2 sons and 7 daughters. Nyap vexed as Susan
took all cargo for 7 girls and gave Nyap none. This is why Nyap says he wants cargo for Charlie
.
Aug 24th-
Sheila
, girl who used to take care of Gemma
went back to Renton
's compound where her mo. lives. Clementine
, her mo., had same mother with Nyap's wife. Her mo. married at Mang. She just gave her to Nyap to help with Gemma
. Nyap says he has to give dashes for this.
Aug 25th - VOCABULARY
Maku = dead people. like Nam
Makuachi = ways of cursing people, mean "you are dead person"
Kor-a-mabva = "if you go hunting you not get beef" all you do will fail. If you fail in hunting you go to big ant. It tells you what is spoiling your hunting. It may be ancestors are doing this if you have not given them enough. Or it may be big people. If you then give them some they will say blessings if beef comes, you go shoot' em!...witches. Part of witches body which stays in house. Called = Hulup. The part which goes chop man is called Nor. Same word as used for "Man". In dreams people say they dont know whether boy travels or not.
MAKING GLUE FOR CATCHING BIRDS -
Went to Clifford
's compound at about 5. He was cooking some sap from the trees. When it boils he pours on cold water. Then twirls sticks between his palms for 10 minutes. Sticks collects solid part of mess. Soon he had a big blob of sap on end of stick. It was white. He took it out. Mixed it together with some old he already had which was brown. It was thick and spongy like rubber. He pulled it about like taffy for a while then held it and blew it in centre. It expanded like balloon. Punched hole in it. and it collapsed. Tomorrow he will cook it again. Before putting out to catch birds. 2 days ago he caught 4 this way.
Aug 27th - FREDERICK
on OLD AGE
He says he is 4th oldest man in Warwar. Phillip
is oldest. Bartholomew
is next. Neville
3rd. Oldest Mambila he knows is Albert
at Kara. He had a son who died recently who was older than Frederick
. Frederick
says he was married when Germans came to Rudolf
's compound. They did not kill anyone, but took lots of chickens and goats. And told people to bring corn to Banyo. Clint
carried some there. Frederick
says that they had heard of white men from Fulani. Fulani told them and they believed it, that Europeans were dead people. Mambila feared them. Clint
says he was ready to marry when Germans came. Says he brought corn to Banyo. He brought it to fortifications above Banyo.
Aug 28th Shoa NJU
Buchanan
of Brett
's is showing Barry
and Alexander
how to make the medicine. It is medicine to chase away witches. Chicken cooked. A spear, knife and hoe are stuck into ground near pot which is cooked on 3 stones. Alexander
's chicken used. Buchanan
says that the 2 will not pay him to learn medicine,but John
says that they will. As you cant take medicine for nothing. Women cant watch. He does not know what would happen if they did. 2 very small boys are watching. Women pass by, did not look away but did not linger.
Aug 30th TAGANA FARM PALAVER-
Today big people came back from Gembu. Alkali had put 3 Tscharl people in jail for not having arrested Tagana people whom they saw moving boundary sticks. Warwar people vexed too much. They say Government stop them from fighting and then put 3 people in jail because they dont fight. Alkali says that both Tagana and Tscharl people should work farms. People are vexed about this. They say they will tell D.O.
Aug 31st - WARWAR MARKET -
Diarmuid
s from Tiker's wife bought 2 sh.'s worth of guinea-corn from Samuel Zielinski
's wife. She sold 5 Heaping pans per shilling. This is cheap, as usually sells for 3d / a pan. Diarmuid
's wife said she bought it as their corn crop not good. John
said it was to make beer, as it was cheaper than usual and a good opportunity. In market few people. Men selling rattles again there. In Ndiel Nyap's wife, Brendan
's wife and of course Rolf
's wife selling cornbeer. I bought a fine shield for 15 shillings and a spear with a hole in the middle for 15 shillings.
LELBON, JIMMY
, LINUGI, compounds are all close to each other, about 1 minute's walk. About 7 minute's walk from nearest compound.
Nwena = Year.
Nyenma = is one kinship term that is sometimes heard, more than other. Guanama = sometimes heard but less frequently.
KINSHIP
Compound Heads living in NDIEL whose kinship with local Man is through females:
1/ Ron
: his mother was of Frederick
's Man. Father mother exchange marriage.
2/ Robin
: his mother born in Ndiel. Bridewealth marriage.
3/ Nyap: his mother married Theobald
of Man-Gembersi. Bridewealth marriage.
4/ Garth
: his mother's mother of Frederick
's family. His mother lived in Ndiel. Bridewealth Marriage.
5/ Herbert
: lives in compound where his mother's mother born. Marriage exchange.
Compounds head living in TIKER because of female ties:
1/ Karel
: his father's mother was from here. Her marriage broken as her father's fa. gave nothing for her.
2/ Henry
: His fa. came to wife town to avoid illness. His fa. Told Henry
to remain after his death.
3/ Elton
: lives with mo's family to take care of bros.
4/ Gilmour
: His mo. came from NDIEL. Man-Gembersi.
5/ Lorcan
: came to live here when fa. died.
6/ Cahill
: his fa.'s family took no care of his mo. when fa. died. So his mo. came back.
7/ Deverell
: Followed maternal 1/2 brother. His maternal 1/2 brother followed his fa. who was Man-Mbien-gui.
8/ Ned
: His fa's mo. came from TIKER.
9/ Nick
: Mo of Nick
's fa. from TIKER.
Compound heads living in TIGUL of female ties.
1/ Gilbert
: His fa. followed his real female sibling who was married in TIGUL to Bonar
2/ Marmaduke
: Came to live with fa.'s mo's bro's son as he was sick at Mbar.
3/ Niall
: Came to live with his mo's family when his fa. died.
4/ Cedric
: His fa. came to live with mo's family.
5/ Hartley
: Lives with mo's family, that is fa's mo's family.
6/ Emlyn
: Lives with mo's family; reason unknown.
7/ Rhodes
: reason unknown, relationship unknown.
MARKETS
Market cycles
Warwar, Gembu, Mbanga, Kabri, Vokude, Bang, Yambap, Ndarrup, Landenya and Mburr, Ninge, Dorofe, Kara.
MEDICINE CULTS
INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM NAGARI MAINLY
Names of the main medicines
TSCHUK probably the most important
BEL
KUL
GARUM
GUUL
NGONUM
TSIMBER
MGA
NO
MVIR
NGAN
KWURUM
NGUP SOA
NAN
VA
FELIP
TSCHUK
NORTSCHOKE is the name used for a man who has the medicine. The man with the medicine is the first to plant guinea-corn. The next day is a day of rest for everyone. He is the first to eat of the new guinea-corn. This he obtains form his own farm. No one can leave the village for four days after it is planted, nor can any stranger sleep in the village for this period, nor can any food be sold to strangers. No crops to be taken out of the village. No copulation between unmarried peoples, but permissible if spouses. NORTSCHOKE is the first to eat guinea-corn with a knife. If any of these rules are broken, the offender must present a fowl to the TSCHUK man. The day after the guinea-corn is planted all of the people go hunting. The game is all brought to him, before being shared. The stomach, head, and heart are given to him. These he cooks on the stones of Tschuk. He blesses all of these contributions and tells all of the animals to come to the village so that they can be caught by villagers. He calls for only good girls to come to the village as wives of the inhabitants. He asks that bad girls should not come, nor should bad animals come. When Europeans come they should bear good news, and not have evil thoughts. The horns of the killed animals are put into the medicine hut. He is the first to store guinea-corn in his store house. After all of the guinea-corn is stored he announces that a special dinner must be made for the Tschuk medicine otherwise the crops will not be blessed (This year the dinner was not held). Three days before the feast, all of the men go hunting, the bag is kept for three days until the market day on which feast is to be held, then all animals brought to him. All of the heads of the animals are put into basket and eaten by girls who will marry outside of the village. The horns from the head of the animals shot are filled with corn beer and drunk by the TSCHUK men. Again they make a request for good animals to come to the village, as well as good girls, etc. They also ask for peace to rule in the village. Actually they do this every time that they pray at rituals.
Most Important Tschuk men
Bartholomew
Tigul Adrian
Ndiel Cecil
Tiker and possibly Harry
Tscharl Clifford
, Christopher
have it too.
INCEST Misc. Notes for Notebook not yet typed
John
knows a man who lives with his full sister. They are from Mang. They eloped to Kabri. Stayed about six months. Came back and big people were very angry, but could do nothing. Have 4 children and none died. Oldest is now 9. The two were orphans, man who had custody of them was a younger sibling of parent, father I think.
John
says that he has never heard of man sleeping with sister in Warwar, however he says that he believes that it happens frequently. In Warwar they say if you marry your sister children will be weak.
MARCUS
MARRIES SISTER
Father's mother of the girl came from here, they don't know her name. Mother of Roger
s father was the woman. She bore the father Ferdinand
in Tscharl. Ferdinand
was Roger
's father. Archibald
s wife is Roger
s real sister, that is the wife he got by exchange. Archibald
and Dora
(Roger
s real sister) delivered Suzette
who was Marcus
's wife. The big people very vexed when the two married, but Marcus
gave cock and spear which Archibald
took. Three children born, all died. She then stopped conceiving. When she stopped her mother said that she should marry another man and conceive with him. Married at Mang and did not conceive. Now sleeps at Archibald
s compound, Marcus
is trying to marry her again. The only reason marriage was allowed is that Marcus
's father not from here.
{QV section in Marriage notes dated 3 Sept ff}
Sept 9th; DISCUSSION OF PALAVERS, WITH ARCHIBALD
Before the courts, big people would settle palavers. If Dickson
used Thor
's farm what would happen? Said in old times they planted bitter leaf trees to mark boundaries so they had no palaver. If in past there was dispute between his family and Frederick
's Cosmo
for his group, & Chris
from Frederick
's group would settle it. Said that in old times there were fights between Tiker and Ndiel, mainly over women. Big people from Tscharl, for example, the old Warwar, or may be even big people from Ndiel or Tiket would stop it. Cosmo
who had Nya medicine might stop it. The grass he would bring to stop it was Shoa; as soon as this grass was seen the fight would have to stop. If Ndiel fought with other towns then all Warwar must help them. In case of war between Warwar and Vokude, the Nyenyanyu whose mother came from Vokude and fa. from Warwar would try & settle it. He would act in conjunction with a Vokude resident whose mo. from Warwar and fa. from Vokude. This type of person would be able to travel safely between the two towns. If your mo came from Vokude you might go to the war, but would be careful not to hurt any Vokude resident even if he were not your brother. They all agreed fighting is bad.
CAUSES OF WAR
Says that 1 of the reasons for war was that a person would go to a strange town and ask them to fight his own people as they would not give him a girl to exchange. One could get this support from any town in which one has friends and/or relatives. They might also fight over farm boundaries. Stealing a wife did not bring about a war. The 2 men might fight but not bring a war. If man from Vokude stole Clint
wife his family would try and catch them on the road but once they got to Vokude they would not go to get her.
When wars were common Vokude farms and Warwar farms were separated by wide no-man lands
Sept 9th CADOGAN
on medicines
-explanation of medicine I stole. -
I asked him why he took anti-theft medicine off his firewood and then put it back. Says that somebody else took the medicine off firewood. Must be Nyenyanyu as only they can do it without getting sick. Since no one has gotten sick this is proof positive. Was very surprised that no one had stolen wood.
Sept 11th TSCHARL-
At Harry
s' we found them cooking a chicken. Hubert
gave Hal
this chicken as Hubert
's son Ken
married Hal
's daughter.
Sept 11th - MAKA CULT
Ian
says Sylvester
was leader of Maka cult in Warwar. It came from French side, from Ribado, at about time Mr. Donger came. If people believe in it, it would drive away Fulani and Europeans.
Sinclair
said that he had grass that put in a dead man mouth would bring him back to life. When a man died at Tiker and he was called for, said he had lost the grass. The Fulani heard of this Maka and sent Police and messengers to Mbamga. The chief there pointed out the ring leaders and the police beat them in public. They forbade the beating of drums to the Maka beat. After that Maka died out.
Sept 11th- GEMBU MARKET DAY-
Today as on other Gembu days of the last few weeks, there has been corn-beer for sale. This can be attributed to the large supply of corn available and much leisure. Though normally people would not work on Gembu market day, even during busy period, they would be bringing in firewood, grinding corn, etc.. These tasks are nowadays accomplished on regular workdays.
Sept 15th -
While going past Frederick
's house, the latter asked John
to come in and eat. John
asked whether there was any meat. This is not a rude question. If one knows there is meat in the house it is alright to ask whether it is being served, with the obvious intention of refusing if person says no meat is being eaten. John
knew that meat was available as Aylmer
had yesterday brought two cows legs from Gembu Petil, to sell. Aylmer
said that his fa-in-law had bought the dead cow for £3/10.
Sept 15th - In most compounds girls were preparing strings they would dye later and wear for Titeng.
We came to Clifford
's compound. & Nathan
was in process of making medicine
, was standing at gate of compound. Had a pullet tied on a bunch of leaves. There was a spear stuck in ground & a hoe. Clifford
was talking. After each statement he stopped & Nathan
brought knife close to chicken throat saying: "Si si si" After his statements Raymond
talked. Then Clifford
's wife from Kabri. This medicine is to stop witches & to bring peace to compound. Clifford
's wife was vexed as people had been saying that she had given Clifford
medicine so that Clifford
would love her and not his other wife. She said that if this was true Shoa should get her. Frederick
came: said death was a bad thing & not to talk too much of medicine or they might kill people. The talk finished. Nathan
cuts of pullet head, waves body in front of the 3 houses & then buries it at entrance of compound. Then Clifford
brings burnt peace of wood. Nathan
sets fire to dry grass and rubs it over place where chicken is buried. Then puts out fire by rubbing grass on ground, medicine finished. Clifford
. offers Nathan
3d. with a chicken feather. Nathan
says chicken is too small, and Clifford
offers him 9d. Nathan
says it's too small but takes it. In past chickens often given to pay medicine man. Now money but often with a chicken feather and the amount is call a "chicken".
Name of medicine is Shoa medicine. Clifford
says that he uses Ngam at Mbar to find out who should make medicine. He told him to use Nathan
. The Ngam told him that the cause of his illness of the past few weeks was due to witches. He did not ask who bewitched him, Also said that his wife from Yambap wants to go to new man. When she told him this it was bad as this may cause witches to come so this is another reason to make the medicine. Brendan
is the man who is trying to get her. Brendan
told her to go to her fa. & he would go and get her. Clifford
not vexed as he neither slept with her nor stole her. If he did either of these he would be angry.
Sept 8th 1953 PALAVER BETWEEN CAHILL
' AND MAREK
's families. (hypothetical case)
The big man of Frederick
family would approach the big man of Paine
family & inform him that a member of the latter group had stolen some property. The latter would tell the thief to return it. If the article had been sold thief family would help him replace it. In old days the 2 groups might have fought and the winner would get his way, but they would take care not to kill each other. Ndiel and Tscharl people would come, stop fight and hear the case and give a decision. If Frederick
's family stole from K. They would take sticks and shields and fight but not kill each other. The native chief would stop the fight. Before the time of native chiefs the big people of Tscharl and Tigul would stop it. All Tiket people would join K group and Adrian
family would help Frederick
. Tscharl young men would help Tiket and Tigul would help Ndiel.
K once saw this sort of fight occur. The people had drunk a lot of corn-beer. A man from Tiket pushed a man from Ndiel. The fight lasted for some time. A native chief from the French side stopped it. The fighting was spasmodic and at most times it was safe to go visit other hamlets.
Sept 8th BRINGING UP CHILDREN
Went around the town. Most of people were weeding the guinea-corn or bringing in groundnuts. Not a single person in Frederick
compound. Clifford
and others had gone to farm. Raymond
& wife were in the compound. All women of Archibald
's compound were on farm except for one wife. As were Roland
and Neal
. We sat in Nyap's compound. Nyap's wife was helping Gemma
carry Amos
. They are already teaching her to take care of
children
even though she is only about 3. When Amos
was put on Nyap's wife lap Gem
tried to push him off and showed other signs of jealousy. The group reaction was to show Gem
how to take care of the baby herself. Nyap's mo.'s female sibling has made a small carrying basket for Gem
and she goes with it on her back. This is an exact replica of the adult model in miniature. They even put a little calabash in it so that she pretends she is going to get water with it. Little children are set little tasks about the age of 2. In play far from the supervision of their elders they are often seen attempting to perform adult tasks.
Sept 15th - PERSONS WITH WHOM ONE CANNOT SHARE CUP OF CORN BEER FREELY
You cant drink from one cup with fa. or mo. even if you make a payment. One cannot drink with mo's bro. but John
thinks that if he paid, he might. If he pays he can drink with Johnson
. You cant drink with your fa's bro whether older or younger than you. One cant drink with fa's or mo's sister after marriage but can before. The rule is that one cannot drink with any full or 1/2 sibling of one's parents, neither can one drink with any grand parents.
Sept 15th -
Lorrie
is a recent resident in Nathan
's compound. Comes from Mang. Lorrie
married Piers
's real sister. Came to live with her because his wife was sick in Mang. Will probably stay a long time, they will ask big ant before he goes
Sept 15th - ADULTERY
Learnt today from Ian
that Ron
had been caught 3 times in adultery. First time in Gembu; 2nd in Vokude; This palaver settled for 2 fowls. People of Vokude now ask him to pay 5 goats. Ron
says he will not as the woman was married by bridewealth. Does not know whether husband will try & bewitch him. 3rd time with Lorcan
's wife, in Warwar. He gave 1 chicken, Lorcan
agreed and they made the medicine to finish quarrel. This material was checked right with Ron
on Sept 16th.
Sept 16th - TITENG
Cornbeer cooked on Kara market. Will be drunk in Warwar next market day. Danced and Sang on this day. Tigul comes to Ndiel as well as many strangers on Warwar market day. On Gembu market Ndiel people go to Tigul. On Gembu market day they dance in the bush. When they come back they bring grass, wave it and shout. This drives cough to the west. Women also go to dance in the bush.
Sept 16th -
The inverted pots on roof of houses are for small birds to live in. Should the owner of
Sept 17th - DRUM MAKING
Clifford
was making a drum when I went by his compound. Was about 20 yds in the bush. The technique was the same as for making the big man drum, we saw being made some time ago. Said that if one did not have the medicine and hit the drum while making it, he would become deaf. The place was encircled by long grass as on the previous occasion. Was making it alone this time as it was a small drum. Harold
's fa. showed him the medicine but he learnt to make the drum by watching older people.
Sept 18th - RAISING MONEY FOR FINES
People who are called to Tscharl in an attempt to raise £10 fine for Obidiah
. From Ndiel Frederick
and Archibald
, from Tiket Cahill
; from Tigul no one. Rathbone
told them about the fine: £10. Roland
said that Tcharl would give £7. The other hamlets £1 each.
Sept 17th - TITENG
Clifford
said that the medicine for Titeng was to drive away coughs but this is a lie. Medicine did not make cough go away, nor had it ever done so.
Sept 18th -
Raymond
was cutting sticks in his compound. Said he was not well. That sticks told him to make "Shoa" medicine. Had not yet asked who was to make the medicine.
Sept 18th - RAISING MONEY FOR FINES
Frederick
today told Adrian
and Archibald
to come. Decided to give the money they had been paid for resthouse work and other Government work as their contribution towards Obidiah
's fine. Adrian
, Archibald
and Frederick
were main participants. Robin
also came but did not say much. Was all done very quietly. People are very vexed, that Obidiah
was put in jail, and about the fine. They say that the Fulani are very unjust. Frederick
keeps all the hamlet money earned by work for government in his medicine house.
Sept 18th - WARWAR CASE
Warwar says when Tangana people swore to the bell about farm palaver they put Warwar in jail because Alkali said Warwar told lie. Did not let Warwar swear the bell. Alkali told them they had to pay £10. Some Fulani told that it was a bad thing to come and tell me things. Says that Tangana people were afraid and that is why they swore to the bell one of the witnesses from the village of Warwar said that Warwar had told him to move boundary posts as he was afraid of Alkali. This was Ernest
. Ernest
was not asked to swear bell. Mallam Bakari was vexed because they put Warwar in jail. He went and told D.O. D.O. Told them to take Warwar out of jail. They put Ernest
Montague
and Rufus
in prison & they are still there. This they did because they pull out boundary markers.
D.O. Talks of Tangana Farm Palaver Sept. 19th
The boundary was drawn by Mathews 5 years ago. It was not a farm boundary but a village boundary. He says that there are twelve disputed farms and that according to recent judgement they can be used by either village. As Tangana people planted last batch of TIN they should be able to plant crops there this time. He says as far as he is concerned palaver is settled and no further action will be taken. He is not aware of the tension. Claims that Tangana people have been farming there as long as Tscharl people. He says Warwar not allowed to take oath on bell as in Muslim law only one person allowed to take oath. D.O. not satisfied with present Adm., but does not know what can be done about it, or how it can be improved. He is aware of many injustices. Has asked me to buy artifacts for museum, such as spears, small beer baskets, horns etc.
Sept 19th. Fuss between Adrian
and Frederick
's group.
Adrian
said people from Ian
's area were not willing to help him in R.H. work and did not obey him. Frederick
got very angry at this and said not true, was angry at slur on kinship group.
Sept.20th
All big people, the Kassala from Ndarup, Mverup, Mang and Warwar were joined in Archibald
s compound. Roland
(Kassala of Tscharl) talked for ten minutes of Tangana farm palaver. He said that he wanted fixed boundary. All agreed. Kassala from Ndarrup talked and agreed with Roland
. Adrian
and Bevis
agreed. All repeated what Roland
had said..
Sept.20th. Meeting with D.O.
Roland
talked for Tscharl. All Tscharl people said that they had planted TIN trees as well as some people from other hamlets. Hearing calm. Darius
said that they must let Tangana people use the twelve farms. D.O. Then talked of coffee experiment which was greeted with no enthusiasm. Roland
did 90% of talking for Tangana farms. People from other hamlets said nothing except murmur words of assent to Roland
s statements.
Sept. 20th. Titeng.
A lot of strangers here, from Ndarrup, Mverrup, Mang, Vokude. The big men from these three came for D.O. meeting, but many young men came for Titeng. Big men spent time before meeting at Archibald
s, and afterwards at Adrian
s and Frederick
s. Adrian
had Jake
bring corn beer for them as well as supplying some of his own. About 80% of the men who danced had newly dyed their loin cloths. Only a few wearing European cloth. None wearing Mambila cloth have it with old dye, that is to say all wearing such cloth have it newly died. Started dancing at Brett
s, then went to Jake
s and then Ezra
s. At beginning of the dance Harold
and Gregory
had horns made of bamboo. They sang old men's songs, surrounded by younger men. Young men formed a circle around the two. Each time song finished, the young would fling out their arms and shout thus driving the old men's songs away. They do this so that the Titeng songs will sound better. This is definitely a young men's party, the old neither dance nor made medicine; About two hundred and fifty to 300 young men and women dancing. A few old women danced as did Gregory
. Majority of big men paid no attention to the activities. During most of the afternoon they danced at dancing field of Ndiel. Tigul, Ndarrup, Mverrup, Vokude, Mang, Kabri, Mbamga and other towns represented. Charles
had made beer for his official friend (BIL) so the party adjourned to Ian
's part of the town for the night. Dance went on all night. Tigul was supposed to make corn beer but did not so the dance will not go there but stay in Ndiel.
Sept.22 Titeng.
Songs sung at Titeng differ from others only in rhythm. The words are same or can be the same. No special songs. Old man songs are wordless and meaningless. These are sung to the special rhythm and a for only a few minutes before Titeng begins. Only time that they are sung. Several people have told me that Titeng is small boys thing which means that it is of interest only to young men. During the third day of Titeng cough is said to be driven away. The coughs are driven to the West as are old men's songs. The word Titeng comes from the bamboo whistles which are also called Titeng. Yamkor is the name of old men's songs. Only sung at this time. They begin in Ezra
s compound because he has GIR medicine (this is the same as Archibald
's fence medicine). Yamkor sung also during day coughs driven away. Tigul said that though normally they make beer for this feast, they did not this time, but would make it for Kati. Mbarr makes first Titeng, followed by Mbwanga {Mbamga?}, Yambap, Shova (part of Vokude) Vokude and Warwar. This is last. Tangana made it some time ago as did Ninge and Kara. Other towns don't make it. Normally Kati danced after coughs driven away, but as there was no beer left all people went to Tiket and Tscharl, this applies as well to Ndiel people. Shortage due to Tiguls failure to make beer
Sept 16th
Johnson
has the following medicines:
"Jur" med. The one Archibald
has in Ndiel. Andrew
had it before him. Rudolf
had it before Andrew
. Rudolf
and Andrew
bought it from Aziz
. Aziz
from Tiket. Aziz
was relative of Rudolf
.
"Yung" - Andrew
gave it to Johnson
on same day as he got "Jur". Rudolf
gave it to Andrew
"Tu" - Adrian
's fa., Cosmo
, gave to Johnson
; he paid a dog, a hoe, and 3 chickens. Some of this is secret and he wont talk about it. When a man bears a child, they bring a chicken to Tu man and he makes medicine. It is only done if child is sick. It is to chase away the sickness. The Tu man makes a string and the child wears it on his neck. Johnson
does not think that dead people help in curing in this particular case. Others in Tiket make Tu medicine also. Adrian
makes it in Ndiel.
Sept 23 John
says.
These are all important medicines. Jir, Yung, Ngan and Nam. All of the above but Yung have special Jujus. Nyam Juju is so strong that unless one has the medicine one cannot see the Juju, the same applies to Tu medicine. The Juju for Ngan is called Bvur. Deverell
Tiket has Yung, Nyap Tiket and Adrian
have Ngan. Nam causes peoples bellies to swell if they steal. Tschuk is big medicine without Juju. Kurum is also big medicine.
Jir can only be given to sons by exchange marriage or real brothers. Yung can be given to anyone as can Ngan, Nam, Kurum. Tschuk and Tu can only be given to sons of each marriage or to real brothers.
Sept 23.
Woman drum= Djua Me Man drum=djua tila or Djua Tim. Small log drum=Kwinjeng. Snare Drum= Dang or Djua Dang Small arm drum = Tigul Rattles = Bati
Whistles with man's face= Tang
Rubbing sticks Tscaquar
Juju whistle = Tekshoa (Only owner and Nyena Nyu can use)
Talking whistle = Jemi
Big horns= Lurup
Smoking pipe=Tol
Twin pipe=Tol Felipi
European pip=Boti
Shield=Biir
Bag carried by men=Kall
Big back basket =Sa mal
Small girls basket=Sa deri
Walking stick=Ku
Sept. 23.
Ron
says that his father planted the palm wine trees that he now owns. He says that once he, Garth
, Charles
and Ian
once lived on the main path between Clifford
's compound and Finlay
s. They moved because many people were sick there. Previously R.H. had been where Ian
lives. There was a fairly long period where Ian
s area unoccupied. This was when Dunger or Ahrens here. They moved R.H. down when and because Theobald
was chief and he wanted it near his compound.
Sept.24.
Clifford
says that if one has more than one wife it is usual for one to do cooking in a day and have the other eat with her. His wife from Kabri does this but the one from Yambap does not. Wife from Yambap jealous and trying to make trouble. Obviously the one from Kabri's is Clifford
s favourite and he shows it, this aggravates the situation.
Sept. 24. Medicines by Frederick
.
Jir medicine can only be given to family member. Yung can be given to anyone. Tschuk only to family member. Cannot give Tschuk or Jir to a son of bridewealth marriage. One can give it to sister's family member. Cannot give Tschuk or Jir to a son of bridewealth marriage. One can give it to sister's son if not of exchange marriage. He gave it to Roland
, Obidiah
, Rathbone
and Ron
. His father gave it to him. As long as he is alive Ron
can't use it but Rathbone
and Rolland
can as they are not of the same hamlet.
Sept. 24th. John
regarding Archibald
s kinship.
John
says that Archibald
cannot be of Adrian
s family or he would have Tu medicine. Tu medicine requires that a net be put on Medicine (Nyup) house. V. Zielinski
says that if Archibald
dies Thor
, Ethan
and V. Zielinski
will get most, Frederick
would divide. When Lance
dies Aylmer
, Mbon and Petros
(the man whose children were taken away and I had reinstated) will get most. If any man dies of Frederick
s group, he would divide, but take only a little himself. He would divide in order to keep the peace.
Sept.25.MEMINBILLA is the group that inherits from one. GELABILLA includes all of ones family. MEMINBILLA = Me=mother, men=in, billa=our. Father's brothers sons and daughters are in your Meminbilla whether marriage by exchange or not. If your father's sister is married by exchange then children belong to Memin also if married by bridewealth. Mo's brother's children the same whether Exchange or bridewealth. Same for Mother's sis children.
Sept. 22.
One of Nichol
's (Theobald
s real brother) came for Titeng. He lives in Mang with mother. Doesn't want to live here as someone has to help his mother who is very old.
Sept. 23. Clint
had medicine made for wife.
Ngur medicine was made for wife. This is medicine to be made for spears before hunting and also put on farms to protect against stealing. His wife had taken something from another farm and had been caught by medicine. Cadogan
first made it but it was no good. So Jackson
who is classificatory brother of wife was asked to make it. Clint
asked no oracle who was to make medicine or what medicine to make since wife confessed stealing.
Sept. 23.
Knox
s wife is preparing corn beer for next market day. Jeremy
brought almost a full basket of corn flour from one of John
's farms in Mang. Theresa
had decided to make corn beer for sale. Today she cooked corn in a pot over fire. It is placed dry in the pot and stirred. Only about three tassas are put in at any one time. 13 tassas were used in all having a market value of about 3 shillings and three pence. 61/2 tassas of guinea-corn will be used which has a market value of 1sh and 4d. Corn 4 tassas to a shilling market value, Guinea-corn 5 tassas for shillings. Result of manufacture was 5 jugs.
Sept. 23.
Today Warren
shouted GULLACHI (your head) at Roland
in play. Roland
said that he was going to flog Warren
for this and was very angry. Warren
nervous and stayed around my house part of the afternoon and later went to Vokude to avoid being beaten at night.
Sept. 26. John
Johnson
s grandfather is in Neil
s family. He stole Rudolf
s mother. John
says that Elton
will get most of Johnson
s cargo. If Lance
(FREDERICK
) dies Aylmer
, Mbon, Petros
(Dorofe) would get most. Langley
will get a little as Flora
was Frederick
s sister and married by exchange.
Sept. 26. Gerard
says.
She first said that MEMINBILLA means that one has same mother with another.
When M. Taffis father died, Frederick
divided the estate.
When Gawain
died, Craig
divided the cargo not Frederick
. Angus
(Craig
's father) was a member of this Man.
Aylmer
says that Man Gamsi is divided into two MEMINS. Within the MEMINS the cargo is divided by the biggest man and the biggest part taken by him since he gives largest amount of bridewealth.
Sept. 26 Adrian
says.
Members of Adrian
's MEMIN. Jake
, Nathan
, Robin
, Clint
, Finlay
, Dyson
, Gregory
, Rodney
, Cadogan
, Harold
. All of these would get a part of his cargo. Archibald
not in his MEMIN. He says Archibald
of same MAN but not of MEMIN. He says Archibald
of MAN only because their ancestors were friends not because of kinship, hence they cannot marry each others daughters, but they do not inherit from each other. This friendship developed through Adrian
's father wanting to go live where mission now stands, which he did for awhile. This was Thor
's Archibald
s fathers land.
Sept. 26. Big medicines given by Adrian
.
Tschuk, Tu, Bel (or Yir) and Shoa.
Adrian
says that he can only give Tschuk to people in his MEMIN not to strangers. The same applies to Bel (Yir) and Tu.
Archibald
has given Harold
, Adrian
and Abraham
Jir medicine. When Archibald
dies Adrian
will make it. If Adrian
dies Harold
will make Tschuk medicine, Archibald
has not got it since he isn't in Memin.
Sept. 26. Johnson
says.
Renton
is his relative but not of same MEMIN. Johnson
says Elton
, Nyap and Marcus
, S. Zielinski
and Ibrahim
are all of Memin. Johnson
says if one has two wives and lots of offspring the children of one mother may consider themselves distinct from the other and form a separate Memin. Man Ndua, Man Max
and Man Getschang are really separate Memins of same Man.
Sept. 26. MEMINBILLA. Cahill
says.
He and Cecil
and Diarmuid
are of same MEMIN as well as Meiron
(Tiket farms) Jem
(farms) and Jeremy
farms) Hal
, Percy
, Haldane
, Jarod
(Matthew
full sib) the other Memin of Man Neil
. Pearson
and Lorcan
form their own. Johnson
is older than Cahill
but Rogers
is second oldest of Tiker.
Sept. 26.
Johnson
was angry as he had asked Adrian
for palm wine, as he was going to his palms. Adrian
said that it was already sold. Later Johnson
learned this was not the case.
John
had been asked by V. Zielinski
to come to his farm and drink palm wine. By time John
came it was gone. He learned that Obidiah
had come and drunk it with V. Zielinski
, his wife and Obidiah
. The latter had been told that it was available by Ian
.
Sept. 28. Dispenser came. All scraped off top layer of compound for fear that he would find them dirty. He stopped for ten or fifteen minutes at Lance
s, then went to Tscharl to be entertained with wine and beer by Obidiah
.
Sept. 28. Frederick
on Memin.
He was vague on subject. Members of Frederick
s Memin. Charles
, Mallam Taffi, Frederick
, Ron
(as he is son to Frederick
's sister) Rupert
(Kabri) Garth
, Martin
both of these are sons of his sister) Kornelius
and Alwyn
(his real brothers living in Dorofe).
Memin of Parker
Andrei
, Zielinski
, Parker
, Clint
l (Mverrup Andrei
s brother) Clifford
, Graeme
(son of their sisters).
Sept. 28. Clifford
says.
When his father died June
divided the cargo. June
is dead. June
's father and Gawain
had father and mother. Frederick
supervised the division. June
was a woman she was chosen as she was the biggest person of the Memin. Clifford
's Memin; Andrei
, Parker
, Zielinski
, Clifford
, Davey
, Damon
, Kevin
(Kara)
Sept. 28. Hugo
on MEMIN
Oswald
, Ned
, Soames
, Renton
, Ritchie
, Bartlett
, Hugo
, Gilmour
, Xavier
, Craig
, Henry
, Jason
, Quentin
, Karel
, if any of these died he would get some of the cargo. Quentin
and Jason
Henry
's compound. Xavier
Gilmour
s compound. Ritchie
Bartlett
's compound. Moses
Soames
of Ned
s compound. Donald
's now on Tiket farms. At Gembu there is Evelyn
. At Vokude there are two Tarrant
and Taggart
. Evelyn
's mother is from this MEMIN. Tarrant
's father was Qua from this group. Taggart
's mother from this group. Mother of Evelyn
was Jon
's sibling. Qua went to live in Vokude his wifes place when he was sick here. Gua's father was Evelyn
. Taggart
s mother was daughter of Ned
.
Sept.28.
Rodney
came to make Shoa medicine for Nathan
. Nathan
consulted his own tarantula. He has this medicine and the big ant.
Sept. 29. Deverell
on Memin.
Only Winston
and Willard
would get his cargo. He works Be's farms. Be was his real brother. All of his brothers are dead. His father went to French Side.
The first time that I have seen big man lick the soup pot. Deverell
did this in spite of the fact that his son Winston
and John
had eaten with him.
Sept.29 Kati.
The young boys decide where to hold it first. They decide the last day of Titeng. Kabri did Kati first. Then any town can hold it. It is always done after weeding finished or nearly finished.
Sept 29-30. Kati
We arrived in Tiker about ten. No one but Tiker people. Danced until about three. The Tscha{??Tscharl??} came carrying long staves. Then affair speeded up. Later Ndiel and Tigul came. Men formed a big circle and girls danced inside it. Some men came and danced with them. Then Nyap Tiker who was the biggest man there asked for silence. After about five minutes he got it. He asked why Tscharl, Tigul and Ndiel people didn't come earlier, he was vexed at this. Clifford
said that the reason that they didn't come was that cough was troubling the people. Nyap asked why Tscharl men didn't bring their women. Tscharl did not answer. He said to sing loud so that Nam would not spoil the dance, Nam is the dead people. Ndiel people did not bring staves though they could of if they had wished. Dancing stopped at six A.M. The real reason that Ndiel, Tigul and Tscharl people did not come earlier was that there was no corn beer..
Sept.30. At Clifford
s compound where John
's wife was selling corn beer, Clint
, Clifford
, Dyson
, Jacob
Nyap and John
's father were drinking palm wine. They had set up some palm leaves with snail shells. This was fake medicine so that passers by would not ask for any palm wine. Towards the end they gave some to Dyson
s wife. Frederick
s wife was very angry as they did not give her any. This practice of putting up fake medicine is fairly common to protect ones drinking from others.
Oct 1.
If one shoots an animal or ones dog catches it the head must be cooked outside, only the hunter and his full siblings, of either sex can eat it..
Oct.1. Nyap's wife calls Clifford
wife Guanama but this is just in play
October 1.
Clifford
and Andrei
were making medicine this morning when we went by. They had cooked a chicken and were eating it at about 8:30 A.M.. Clifford
said that when your father dies you must sleep on the ground for one night. Others take ashes and throw it on your head. Then you must give a chicken to all of the big people. This Clifford
and Andrei
did not do. This is why they are sick. They cookedaa fowl today and gave to Archibald
, he gave them some. They gave it to him as he has Jir medicine and Jir medicine man must be given a fowl when your father dies. (Apparently this is only Warwar custom as John
knows nothing of it). The name of the medicine is Tschor Karkilla (no reference to place name). Tonight Clifford
will kill goat. He will send some to all of the big people of Ndiel, Tigul, Tscharl and Tiket. This is done at death so that the sender will be able to share in funeral feasts of people in the village.
Oct.1. Married woman cannot drink corn beer if they have a baby in arms and are not pregnant. But if they are pregnant or their child is old enough to be weaned, then they can. Knox
s wife was drinking hot corn beer today, but Clifford
s wife couldn't.
Oct1. Kati. People who went to Tiker for Kati from Ndiel and other places.
Oct 1st - PEOPLE WHO CAME TO KATI WHEN HELD AT TIKER
>From Ndiel, males: Clifford
, Mbon, Aidan
, Nigel
, Russ
, Ralph
(Adrian
's compound.)
Women: Coral
, Joyce
, Lily
, Lorna
.
TIGUL: Males: Jakob
, Owen
, Jason
, Artie
, Rory
, Carmichael
, Avelino
,
Females: Hazel
, Anna
, April
, Judith
, and another whose name is forgotten.
I did not get the names of the people who came from TSCHARL.
Oct 1st - KATI
During Kati they stop the drum beating, and Nyap Tiker asked who would take next Kati. Ndiel said that they would. But Tscharl said they want it too. So Ndiel agreed.
Oct 1st - RANDALL
USES A STICK ORACLE
He first asked what was sickness that troubles him. Then what medicine to use. The stick told him he must have someone make Shoa medicine for him. He would not say what medicine he asked about before Shoa prescribed. He then asked Tu to make it. First asked whether Archibald
should: answer No. Then ask about Dyson
. Again No. Adrian
?-No. and finally Rodney
- Yes. He did not ask what makes him sick.
Oct 1st - RAYMOND
CAUSES OF ILLNESS
He went to Vokude to consult Big ant about illness. 1st thing he said was: 1) Big ant, if I am to get well quick, catch stick. If I to get worse, catch stone" - Ant caught stone. 4 times in a row. 2) he asked whether if he makes medicine he would get well? - ant said yes 3 times. 3) He asked whether people were bewitching him? - ant said no, twice. 4) first he asks whether he should use Ngan medicine? - ant says no. 5) Ngan shoa?- No. 6) Nyan medicine? -No. 7) ant says because he sinned against big people. 8) Asked whether he was a witch? - No. 9) As he Clifford
and his sibling all ill, he asks whether it was the fact that they vexed with each other that makes them sick? - No. 10) When fa. died big people came and danced juju for him. They did not cook chicken or goat. Was this making them sick? - Yes.
This is why they gave chickens to Archibald
. And will tomorrow give goat. Pieces will go to: Neville
, from Tigul, Cecil
and Johnson
from Tiket, Rathbone
, from Tscharl; and Adrian
and Archibald
from Ndiel. They chose these among all big people, as they could not feed them all. He went to Vokude for big ant as he did not want to do it here. He paid six d.
Oct 1st - JOHN
ON DEAD PEOPLE
Nam = dead people. Same thing as Tschang. Use of term Tschang for god is result of mission. Ancestors make crops grow and people sick. Either mo. or fa. ancestors can make one sick irrespective of where one lives.
If Adrian
were being made ill by Gembersi, he would call adult male members of man together to make medicine. This is called Nam medicine. Fufu and chicken would be given to ancestors as this done whenever medicine made. You don't discriminate between mo. and fa. relatives when sacrificing chicken and fufu. John
says he thinks only relatives can eat the food at this time. During making of Nam medicine, the ancestors are told to forget those who are still alive and not make trouble for them.
If John
flogged his son the dead might make the son sick. The big ant would tell him why son ill. He would then call a person with Nam medicine who would drive the dead away. Harold
has Nam medicine. If a stranger flogs a child, child wont get ill.
Oct 2nd - SIMON
's marriage
Simon
's new wife Charlie
came last night. Was supposed to come today. Clint
went to her compound and told her to come at night. Bridal party went directly from Nyap's compound with no stops. The only criticism I have heard so far is that the chicken feathers they were given to eat palmwine with were bad. When asked they said palmoil was good. Drove away a small boy who came to house. It is not illegal that such a person comes in but the girls did not want him.
Oct 2nd - Raymond
and Clifford
give goat.
Adrian
asked whether Cadogan
and been invited to goat giving. Raymond
said No. Went to get him After hours.of waiting and much calling Rathbone
, Cahill
, Carmichael
, Adrian
, Frederick
had come. They asked where Archibald
was. Frederick
said he had gone to farm & had said they should make medicine without him. Clint
and Ron
wandered in. Raymond
and Clifford
brought the cooked goat and many rounds of fufu into the centre of the compound. Frederick
goes over to supervise division of goat. Raymond
came with a small knife, but Frederick
sent him away as this is a knife that is used to cut sticks to foretell future. Such a knife must never be used on a goat. They finally used a machete.
First portion given to Adrian
, 2nd to Cahill
; N. said: did not know why was given to him so it was explained amid much laughter. A means of getting Clifford
and Raymond
to explain their sin.
3rd portion to Rathbone
; 4th to Carmichael
;
Clint
, Adrian
and Ron
immediately begin to eat; give some to Frederick
. Raymond
came near to where Adrian
, Clint
and Ron
were sitting. Frederick
vexed as he thought Raymond
begging. But Raymond
said that Ron
had called him. Adrian
gives some of his to: Brian
and Osborne
. Finlay
& Raymond
were there but not asked to eat. All of the goat is eaten at once, except a small part that Clifford
took to his house. Rathbone
did not eat any as he has leprosy and lepers cannot either eat goat or European salt. Adrian
and Frederick
say that Clifford
and Raymond
had better make corn beer if they have enough food; if they don't the illness may not end quickly nor will their crop grow well. Cahill
suggested that Ian
also should make corn-beer but Frederick
said he would not as he was Christian.
Part given to Clifford
was from Rathbone
. He gave him 1/2 of his portion. Rest divided among big people. Clifford
explained the division: one leg given to Tiker, one to Ndiel, one front leg given to Tscharl and other to Tigul. This good evidence that its not matter of kinship but rather a community ritual. Division is between hamlets, even though only 1 or 2 men represented some of the hamlets.
The delay of about 3 hours exasperated even Clifford
and Raymond
.
Oct 2nd - SIMON
's MARRIAGE
At 2:30 pm, the bride's party asked for money to wash, and Simon
said there was none. After a long discussion, was agreed that a hoe be given. Hoe will be returned. 1st wife of Simon
is carrying the messages. Seems agreeable to do this. Simon
says they did not give him a chicken bone to chew as he is the bro. of many of the brides maids.
CIRCUMCISION ETC...
While waiting for the big people to come for goat Clifford
, John
and I talked about this. Robin
is a skilled practician. This done at about age of 10. Elias
has been done. Done during dry season, Clifford
and John
had never heard of a non-circumcised male over about 13. If boy refuses, other young men will laugh at him. Would be impossible for a non-circumcised person to get married. If one is not circumcised one cant bear any children as "juice has no power". Ethan
was surprised to hear that I was not cut. He said that I would be when I went back to England. I said "No". Said then I would have no children. I said this not true and he was surprised. His reaction was that someone had been fooling the Mambila in saying that they could not have children without being circumcised. Said that one must sleep with a small girl about Rosalie
's age (10) as soon as wound heals. He did this as well as John
. If not juice loses power.
TOOTH CHIPPING
Not essential. Just Nyanga=beautify. Does not hurt much. Gregory
does it. One pays 3d. Clifford
says he wont have it done to his children. Circumcision continues. Upon return CIRCONCISION {sic}parents give son a chicken.
Oct 2nd - SIMON
's Marriage
Bridegroom's party: Glyn
, Kenny
, Pippa
, Simon
's wife all sleep in Otto
's compound. Glyn
, Kenny
and Otto
went to get Charlie
last night unexpectedly.
Bride's party: Boyd
, Dyson
's compound. - Jasper
and Ezra
same compound - Kathleen
, Troy
s compound - & Pauline
, Ezra
compound. - None came from Vokude. Simon
gave a hoe so that girls would wash but his will be given back. Says that all the girls coming with bride are his sisters so they did not ask for many things nor throw water on him. They did not fix hair as customary, as she is late pregnant. Could have done this but often don't when very obviously pregnant, then they omit certain details. They did bring chair, but not a fancy one. They are washing her and rubbing with red ochre. Girls asked Clint
for palm wine. He said that since they were all his sisters he would give none and they said O.K. One pot of corn beer brought from Garth
's compound for group. As I was leaving they gave sticks to girls instead of money. Later Simon
will give them money and they will return sticks. Then the girls will return money. I had to leave as smoke was too much for my eyes.
October 2nd. Conception etc.
Nyap says he has had no children since Madam as he has no mother or father. The explanation is that if he had other children while Madam still small there would be no one to look after her. He criticised Harold
for having one child after another so that small ones would not have a chance to grow well before new one born. He says soon his wife will conceive again. Also learned that Roland
, Warren
, Neal
, Brian
sleep downstairs in house while old woman sleeps upstairs.
Oct 1st JOHN
ON DEATH
If John
died someone would be sent to tell his fa. and mo. Nyap Tiker would send Kennedy
or Allen
to tell his father. His fa. would tell Richard
and he would tell all his family from Mang to come. Would try to come all on same day. Upon arrival they would wail. Probably would not bury him until fa. comes. Would take him out of the door. If he died in Ndiel would bury him here, but if ill they would take him to Tiker. They bury the person naked, the graves is L-shaped body is put in tunnel. No medicine put with body. Bury behind compound in which died. Usually buried as soon as most important relative arrives. Usually wait a long time before dividing "cargo" sometimes as long as a year. If you have crops your wife can use them. Wife should remain single at least for one year. If she got married sooner. Groom's family would be angry. Even in case of exchange marriage they wait sometimes before marrying her to a bro. about a year. Drums are beaten with grass. Only at man's death. They are beaten as soon as death comes announcing the coming down of shoas. If
Nyap Tiket
died. If John
at Mang they would send for him. His fa. and mo. would come. He is the only sis's son who belongs to Nyap. John
and mo. must wail but fa. need not. Ibrahim
would tell them to sit down, not to cry. They might bury him before John
came. John
would ask what made Nyap die. This they would know by big ant. The juju would come as soon as they heard Nyap died. Ndiel would bring Kwurum and Boor or Tamjur (Frederick
's). Only big one would come from Ndiel, Tscharl, Tigul, Tiker. Jujus might come from Yambap, as his mo. came from there. The jujus dance but not as much as at Mba shoa. They put the jujus in the house where Nyap's body is. The women sit behind the mat fence while jujus dance. Jujus come to mourn the dead.
A close relative like fa. sibling or son, would not dig the grave unless no other man is available but gravedigger should be relative. A woman cant dig a grave. No grass permitted in grave. After digging grave they make Kum medicine for digger. They make it next day. Until then you cant eat anything but roasted plantain. You cant sleep with your wife. You cant drink corn-beer. If your wife is pregnant you must not carry dead man. For Kum medicine a small chicken is cooked. The same say that jujus come the family of the dead will kill a goat and chicken for them called chicken of l. Its the same word as the name for the mission but has no reference.
The cutter can be anybody, nor necessarily of the family. There are people who know how to do it. Dennis
's bro., Walter
, now dead, used to do it here. They cut up the entire front from both sides. They lift up the flap and put it over the face. They look at the intestine and if they find holes there, it is what makes him die. If the person was a witch there will be coloured matter on the heart. Also there will be a small bag by the heart. If it opens wide and shapshot {sic} on release, it means person is a witch. They then put flap back, but don't sew it up just bury the person. If he is a witch the surgeon tells all not to cry as he was a witch and killed his own brothers and this finally killed him.
Oct 3rd - TSCHOR KARKILL
Nyap Tiker says he gave it to a bro. who was of same Memin when his fa. died. It should be given to a bro. whose fa. is still alive.
FAMILY MEDICINE-NYAP TIKET
If sickness troubles a family all congregate. Sit together and take Wulmani (a type of grass). All will tell why they are vexed. Then a man who has Nam medicine will come and drive dead people away. Cause of sickness in a family often due to discord.
Oct 3rd - shoas - TSHAN -{??TSHANG?? }
Nyap Tiket says: 1st people to use shoas were Mbar, followed by Mbamga, Yambap, Shoap (part of Vokude), Vokude and Warwar.
Nyap says that Tshang made world. Does not know whether it was ancestor or not. Nor whether women or men came first. Nor what Tshang looks like nor where he is. Tshang and Nam are both applied to ancestors. Does not know where dead sleep. Nothing about them. Nor where they learn medicine, nor anything else except blacksmithing which came from Kilatin.
Oct 3rd - NYAP TIKER SAYS r. Memin Billa:
Davey
, Marcus
, Elton
, Joshua
, Johnson
, Ibrahim
, Simeon
, Kingsley
, John
and Kennedy
are all his MEMIN BILLA. Simeon
and Kingsley
sleep on farms as it was too far to go.
Oct 4th - NYAP on NGRIPPE marriage
Nyap finally convinced them that he should get the money. £3-18s. The big sister of Charlie
, Sue
, said how much would have have to pay. Sue
had one mo. and one fa. with Rowena
. Rowena
bore Alison
, Ellis
, Nyap, then Roland
, etc..
Clint
brought money here. Nyap said to bring it to Sue
. Sue
will keep it until Charlie
has children then Nyap will take it and divide it among some of his brothers. He can do what he likes with it but he will give some to his bro from French side. Brother at Vokude, Roland
, and Neal
. The spear he will give to Charlie
's fa. One chicken stays with Nyap and one goes with Charlie
's fa. 1st they brought one chicken and spear. Then 2 chicken and one calabash of palmwine. Because spear was small they had to give 5 sh. He will give 2 of these sh. To Charlie
's fa. They gave 7 sh. To Ezra
's wife. Ezra
wife's fa. Nyap's wife had one mo and fa. Nyap suggested they do this otherwise Ezra
wife might be vexed.
October 4th Clint
says re Simon
s marriage
Clint
gave £3.10 sh to Ellis
Nyaps sibling. Ellis
gave it to their big sister. The money is still in Vokude. He doesn't know whether they will give it back. The big sister said that s would not give it to anyone until children born. At first they said he should give £4 as no farm work done. The big sister said no, only £3 18 sh. as £4 too much. When Clint
gave £3 18 sh, about two months ago, not all concerned had agreed so he was told to come and take it back, which he did. When Nyaps brother, Ellis
, came he told him to bring it back and he would go with him to Vokude. This he did. Ellis
asked Clint
to bring 3 shillings to give to Charlie
s father. Clint
gave £3.18 sh which he gave to Ellis
. Ellis
took it and gave to Charlie
s big sister and he told her to keep it until children born. If no trouble sister will give it to Ellis
. He gave Ezra
s wife eight shillings, but she did not take it.
Clint
gave ten shillings. Lonnie
(son of Clint
s wife living in compound) gave 10 sh. Simon
gave £2.10 sh, £2 of which he borrowed from me.
He did not count sticks but girls said that they amounted to £1. When they are able to give the £1 girls will take it. This they will give to Ellis
who will probably return it to Clint
.They gave hoe for girls to enter compound, but they gave it back immediately. They gave one chicken with spear, one calabash of palm wine. The latter given at Vokude. Simon
gave no rings.
According to Clint
the father should give more for first wife than later ones, this applied equally well to man acting in loco parentis.
Charlie
told us that she would not come unless they gave Ezra
s wife money. Clint
said that it had been offered so she came. Clint
wanted her to come quickly, because should she have borne child in Nyaps compound that would not be good. They would then have to wait until child was able to move about on his own, before she could come to Simon
.
October 4th. MEMIN OF CLINT
If he dies Rathbone
will divide his cargo as well an another man from Vokude. Bryce
of Tscharl would get a part. Clint
was born in the compound where the latter sleeps. His mother came from Yambap. Bryce
's mother came from Gembu. They exchanged both Bryce
s and his own mother. His father was from Bryce
's family but he doesn't know how. He says when Adrian
s father died he got no cargo, so when Adrian
dies he will get farms and palm wine trees but no cargo. His mother came from same family as Adrian
. What divided them is when Adrian
s father died he got no cargo and when his own father died Adrian
got no cargo. When his own father died the big man from Tscharl divided the estate.
Oct.4. Ezra
s wife re Charlie
s marriage
She says that they brought her nine shillings but she refused it said that they should bring it later when Charlie
had children. Otherwise she would have to give it back if they separated. She said that the reason they shouldggive her something is that Ezra
gave real mother of Charlie
a hoe which she kept. when her own daughter marries the husband will have to give Charlie
something.
Oct.4 Kathleen
Re Charlie
s wedding
Small sticks cut to present indebtedness. Each stick was for five shillings.
Jane
of Ezra
s compound cut sticks. Jane
decided how much it was to be. Jane
is Charlie
's sister and she is the oldest. She is the one with the illegitimate child. The money was for her sisters. They gave 3 shillings for the chair. Isaac
got the money. He was the man who fixed the chair. Isaac
sleeps in Dyson
s compound. No payment made for hairdo as it was not fixed. They gave one hoe for coming into compound. They gave sticks for sitting down a stick for five shillings. Gave 2 shillings for eating. One hoe for washing. Gave three pans of palm oil, one to chop, one for chicken and one to rub on. They took money only for chair. The rest they gave back. They will eventually return money that they get for sticks.
Oct. 4th. Jane
on Simon
s marriage.
They cut sticks for £1.10. When they get the £1.10 they will give it to Nyap. Usually they collect all along the road, for walking, carrying across water, etc. As this was close there was no reason for collecting money and some fixed sum was agreed upon. She said that this sum was fixed upon in order to see whether Simon
had money.
The bridewealth money was fixed by Jane
. She said that it was more than usual as Simon
had not worked farms for them. Clint
or Simon
will give money to Jane
who will give it to Ellis
. Before taking the money they will ask Charlie
whether she wishes to stay with Simon
, they will only take it if she says yes. Ellis
will be given money by Jane
. Ellis
can do with it what he wishes.
Oct. 4th A small boy comes to visit Clint
.
Name Njur 7 years. Father Carstairs
at Tigul. Mother Flora
at Tigul. His mother is Clint
s daughter. He says that he just wanted to come.
October 4. Sick child.
A woman brought her sick child here. She is Rolf
's paternal half sister. Her husband is from Mverrup and this is where she lives. Husband came too. He has been explaining at length about illness to Nyap who is not his brother. Gregory
made medicine for her. Oct. 4th. or past 3 weeks Ter (Termites or flying ants) have been major part of diet. They appear from about middle of September to mid November. When rain stops and soil hardens they don't come out again. Some are dried and later cooked and eaten as soup with Fufu. Only men know how to build Ter houses. One can build a Ter house any place where there is no remnant of old Ter house as long as it is not someone's farm. Today many men out building Ter houses, among others Archibald
, Gregory
, Frederick
. Are eaten both raw and cooked by all.
October 10. Nyaps sister's child dies
About 4:00 P.M. Rolf
comes to tell me that the above has occurred. At Nyaps compound found Brett
digging grave. Later Ezra
and Caspar
helped him. It was dug in the banana grove behind the house. Cadogan
supervised the digging. Dug in N.S. orientation. A tunnel dug in which child would be laid. Carefully cleaned of grass and leaves. After digging a piece of elephant grass put across opening. Then they went under medicine house where corpse was lying on a plantain leaf. Corpse was brushed over with water by medicine leaves by the father. It was touched on the forehead with red ochre. The child carried to the side of the grave on a plantain leaf. All medicines and strings cut off there. Corpse was stark naked. Caspar
took him and placed in tunnel of grave. He stood in the grave and patted down all of the earth that Ezra
shovelled in. Corpses head in North direction. Knees doubled up and head laid on the side. Hands under head. After grave filled in, the bunch of grass that new mothers carry was brought, unravelled and spread over grave by Caspar
. Ezra
cut the plantain stems, split them and put them over the grave. Later weeds pulled over the grave as if to hide it. Before putting plantain stems over grave, the father had broken a small calabash, the type used to carry seeds was broken on the grave and pieces left on the grave.
All then returned to compound. Ezra
washed the father's hands, feet and face with water. Dyson
made a long speech and then left. People by the grave side were Rolf
, Nyap, Nathan
Cadogan
, those who dug grave and then the father. In the compound were Frederick
,Rodney
, Dyson
and many others including many women. Much wailing by mothers and other women. Father did not weep. A hoe dismantled and put at the side of the house.
Adrian
appeared at the end of the ceremony, having been on the farm. Archibald
never came. Dyson
s speech was to tell people not to cry any more. He said that when Theobald
died, all cried too much and that this caused trouble. He said that the ancestors took the child. All over in 1 1/2 hours.
Discussion of Meek's articles with John
and others. Sept. 1st.
page 532 line 2. Pop. figures wrong.
" " " 17-pigeon peas (wuli) are grown on the mountain. Afterwards they were harvested, people may grow cassava, groundnuts and yams on the same spot. They do this as working fields for Wulis softens the ground in preparation for future planting. They don't know that this plant fertilises the soil.
Pg 532 line 22- Except where they have been planted on the hill tops: i.e. in village itself.
pg. 532 line 22. Hard rainy season from August 15th to Nov. 15th.
Pg 533. John
says Mambila is a Fulani word.
Pg 533. John
says Nor not used for non-Mambila. Does not know word Jabu.
Pg 534. Note. J
says Kabri use Nu for sun and Nama or Tschang for God.
Pg.534. Tagbo, Lagubu or Tongbo used for Gembu people.
Pg 534. Mambila towns of French side according to John
. Sarki Baka, Ta, Mber, Jang, Que, Libo Mayo Dala, Koti, Idansere. John
doesn't know any of the names listed by Meek. He knows none of the towns listed in Bamenda. He says Kamkam and Magu are Mambila towns.
535. Kila means blacksmith in Fulani talk. John
says Bute is Banyo language. Wawa he recognises as the name of a group, but doesn't know where they live. Blacksmiths in Titon speak special language. At Kabri and other places they don't, they just speak Mambila. Kuna blacksmiths have their own language, also a town called Gono, a place where they make hoes and Yung belles. Gono is near Titon in the direction of Maya Daga.
John
has never heard it said that spears are recent innovation. Never heard of cutting meat with guinea-corn stalks. Says that he thinks at Gono and Titon blacksmiths sons all become blacksmiths. Doesnt know about their endogamy, but has heard that blacksmiths daughters would only marry for money not exchange.
Oct. 12. Medicine for Clifford
, Wife and Andrei
.
I came in in the middle. Frederick
, Gregory
, Archibald
, Adrian
, Andrei
, Clifford
, Ezra
, Caspar
, Clint
were there. Andrei
was confessing that he stolen things including women. This he said was what made him sick. The Shoa had caught him. He confessed at length. Finally Adrian
took chicken feathers, burned it and spat on Andrei
. Later this done by Archibald
also. Then there was talk by Clifford
explaining why he was vexed with his wife, not the one from Kabri. She later spoke up and said why she was angry with Clifford
. Then Frederick
s wife spoke at length. Clifford
meanwhile had given the wife a shilling.
October 16th. Andrei
, Clifford
Medicine.
Andrei
confessed all otherwise shoas would continue to make him sick. A long time ago, they rang the bell saying that a man shouldn't try his brothers wife and shouldn't steal things in Warwar. Andrei
gave the wife, not the one from Kabri, love medicine so that would give it to Clifford
and he would love her and not like Kabri one. Bell had been wrung so that anyone doing this would be sick. Andrei
asked her for a dash for doing this, later went into her house and slept with her. He also stole, Adrian
's, Caspar
's, Ezra
's. Frederick
's and Griffith
's palm wine. Stole a lot of fire wood. Juju made him sick. He told all this to big people. They said that they would not take him to court, and that he does not have to pay for what he stole. He will give big people one chicken to eat. Big people not vexed, they think that he has been punished enough by illness. Is at this moment in Vokude making medicine. Vokude man who has Ngambe (big ant) told him to confess to give chicken and he would recover. The chicken feathers that were burned represented chicken that he will give.
Oct.16. Clifford
and Wife.
Clifford
said that his wife has lied to him and was angry at her. She denied that Andrei
had given her love medicine. Clifford
said that he would give sasswood to two chickens to see who was right, but would do it in a far place as Andrei
or wife might be a witch they could interfere in oracle. Andrei
could not marry Clifford
s wife if he stayed here, but could if he went to live at Mverrup, Yambap, etc.
October 18. Residence vs. Kinship
Clifford
was angry at Andrei
as he had tried to take one of his wives. As he was living in Ndiel with Clifford
medicine had to be made to settle palaver. If he had been living elsewhere medicine would not have to be made. Since witchcraft only occurs between peoples who are living together. The sanction inherent between persons living close together is thus stronger than otherwise.
October 19. Exchange marriage
At any time and for any reason exchange could be broken. In case of breaking marriage children belong to the mother. John
says if one wife has many more children than the other, her brother might call her back.
Oct.19. MEMIN John
on,
There is no way of asking with one question to which Memin one belongs. One must ask whether mother married with bridewealth or exchange. Another question then follows to which Memin does owning parent belong.
Oct 19th. Theft.
Bobby
is the man who sold me firewood he had stolen from V. Zielinski
. He had already once been driven out of Warwar for theft. V. Zielinski
is angry and says that he will ask for one shilling. This fellow has also been run out of Mverrup for stealing. On Oct. 22 learned that V. Zielinski
had confronted the thief. The latter admitted the theft. Zielinski
said that he forgave him, but not to do it again. Evidently Zielinski
had calmed down after seeing me.
Oct. 20. Kati at Ndiel
Had expected things to start early. Heavy rains early evening. About 12 A.M. went to dance place in Ndiel. About ten people there all males. About 12:30 Clint
came with about 25 people including women. That is to say they did not accompany him, but came at about the same time.
I left at 4:30. No outsiders had come. About 80 people from Ndiel there. Oldest was Archibald
's wife, youngest Madam. Most young married people there as well as almost all single people. Most dancing done in two circles, male and female. Men on outside women on inside. After I left Tscharl and Tiket people came. Later Tigul. This was in wrong order as Tigul should be there first. The Ndiel people are angry that Tigul did not come earlier.
Oct. 22. Medicines
Went to Rodney
s compound, he was making medicine for Elias
's fathers wife. She is Rodney
s brothers daughter, the big ant told her to come here. The medicine being made is Nam. Chicken cooked. Rodney
gave the wife a bite of chicken and fufu, three times. Then gave her a sandwich of fufu and chicken. Waved fufu and chicken over the head of the woman, his wife and some of the children of the compound, but none of the men. While waving the food, he said that as the medicine had been made, her chest should not hurt her any longer, repeated three times. After about fifteen minutes woman came out of house, after Rodney
had sprinkled water on her head. Then he touches her forehead, breast, etc. with banana leaves. He does this for all who ate chicken except his own wife. She is tending a child. All present laugh saying that she wanted to eat the chicken but not have the medicine made.
Oct. 22. Cadogan
s compound.
Nyaps wife and Langley
s sister were beating guinea-corn for Cadogan
, This was done to help not for money.
October 22nd. Childrens care Witchcraft.
Ian
says at Christian meeting that children are purposely kept dirty so that people seeing them will say that they are no good and wont bewitch them. It is bad to tell a mother that her children are fine, they prefer that people pay no attention to them, since they fear that people will be jealous.
October 23. Kul medicine.
Gregory
was making this for Nora
from Dyson
s compound. Gregory
says that he wont get paid for it as Lawrie
who is Nora
's husband is a member of his family. If husband were not related he would be paid. This medicine is to stop stomach trouble. Nora
provided the chicken. A chicken is cooked as usual. Gregory
took leaves that were cooked with chicken touched forehead and breasts of Nora
with them and said that illness would go away and not trouble her anymore. Then leaves are stamped upon left big toe. This is to drive bad things away. Later he took a large seed which rattles and shook it on her belly, saying that stomach trouble will go. Then Gregory
did it to all who were around who had had the medicine made previously or wanted it made. All people who had had medicine made and Nyena Nyu shared:
Oct. 23. Nyena Nyu.
These can eat chickens of any medicine, even if they have not had medicine made for them.
Oct 23. Kul Medicine.
Gregory
's father showed him how to make it. His seed rattle was the one used by his father. The medicine made for Nora
was made at Adrian
's compound, she had come to have him make it, but as he had to leave, they called Gregory
to make it.
October 24. Houses.
Two main types. One has a temporary frame of sticks. Mud placed between the sticks frame, once it has hardened frame taken away. Sticks placed about one foot apart. The second type has many more sticks in the frame, which are tied together with fibre. Mud is then put in chinks. With the first type the roof is not put on until mud has dried. In the second type the roof is put on at once. The frame for the roof of both types is made of bamboo, and thatched with elephant grass, stalks of that grass tied to frame with fibre.
October 24th. Nya Medicine. Gregory
.
He is the first to eat of new guinea-corn, maize, cocoyams in Ndiel, and only for Ndiel. Is the only one to have this medicine in Warwar. If Nya man drinks people must keep quiet, if they don't medicine will make them sick. Is only used as medicine if the medicine itself makes people sick. Some special grass used by Nya medicine man, which is put near palm wine trees. If an unsuspecting person goes too near the tree or climbs it, medicine will catch him. They call him a native chief. It also gives him special power to stop people from fighting. He uses a special grass for this. When people see elephant grass in his hand they must stop fighting. He claims that there are restrictions on his own behaviour because of his having medicine. His father gave him the medicine. Does not know why he gave it to him and not other sons. As he has no male children he doesn't know to whom he will give it. If he were to die without passing it on, the family would come together to decide who should get it. The candidate would be sent to Vokude to learn it from man there. The man having it in Vokude is not a brother of theirs.
It has nothing to do with making crops grow. The reason that he must be the first to eat of the new crop is so that the stocks will last and crop will not disappear too rapidly. People don't bring him first fruits, he eats from his own crop, then others can eat. Nya medicine can be made either in bush or in compound. He sleeps far from others because he wants to and not because of medicine. He cannot give to medicine to just anybody. He was able to give it to Samuel Zielinski
because Tom
had had it. One must have an ancestor who had it, before it can be given to one.
Oct. 25. Tschuk medicine.
Tschuk medicine men may put in on plantain trees. Then only people having that medicine or their Nyena Nyu's can eat the plantains. Others cannot even take leaves from the trees.
Oct. 26. Market. Celebration in Mang. and Kabri
Mang people celebrate Mbamga, Vokude, Yambap and Ndarrup market days. Don't do major farm work on these days.
Kabri people celebrate only Mbamga and Kabri Market days. They only take two holidays, that is two days for resting.
Oct. 26. Memin of Rodney
.
Adrian
, Njur, Gregory
, Harold
, Ezra
, Caspar
, Finlay
, Dyson
, Cadogan
, Nathan
, Rolf
, Archibald
, Robin
.
Inheritance of Rodney
. If he dies Adrian
would divide his cargo. Archibald
would get only tobacco, Cadogan
also will get tobacco. Harold
, Caspar
, Finlay
, Ezra
, Gregory
, Njur, Adrian
and his children would get his cargo. Dyson
and Robin
would get only tobacco.
Oct. 26. John
insists no difference in afterworld, whether one is good or bad. No penalty in afterworld.
Oct.26. Aidan
s marriage
His wife brought 8 chicken heads to her sisters, showing that they had given her eight fowls to eat. Robin
kept £1 and returned £2. Brides sisters kept £1 4sh. The brides sisters sent nothing back, Aidan
says that they haven't yet decided on what the final amount of bridewealth should be, or at least they have not told him.
October 27. Pottery.
This morning in Brett
s compound, the latters' wife came in with clay. She beat it with a big stick until it was more cohesive. Brett
then began to make pots. They take a big hunk of clay and then mold out form with hands. Then he scrapes outside and inside with a pebble to smooth surface. If clay needs to be added it is rolled into strips and added on top. Bottom of pot left as a hole. Leave it till edges dry and then put in bottom.
Oct. 27. Disobeying Elders.
Sean
and Neal
were going towards the drums at Brett
s compound. Lance
told them not to beat them as they would disturb him. They paid absolutely no attention and started beating drums. He said to stop and again they heeded him not. He was angry but said no more. They continued beating the drums.
(Address of George A Dunger)
North American Baptist Seminary
Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
_____________
October 29. Big stone at Tiker dance floor.
If big stone falls women alone can pick it up. Big stone has something to do the Lobal medicine. Only women with this medicine can put it up. There is also a big stone behind the fence which no one is allowed to move about. All this told me by John
.
Oct. 29 Tschuk medicine.
Cecil
made Tschuk for Tiker.
Oct. 29 Myth of heaven.
Near Kabri a long time ago people climbed a mountain and then some tall trees on that mountain and reached the sky. There they bought some guinea-corn very cheaply and sold on earth at a very dear price as it was period of famine. The Mambila already knew how to grow guinea-corn at that time. Some people came and cut down the trees so that there are some people still left in the heavens who could not climb down, nor can anyone now go up.
The mountains name is Gong, some people call it Jing. If you are on the mountain you cannot use its name or rain will come and wet you.
October 29.
Talked to Clifford
and Graeme
about snake living in tree on Ndiel dance ground. They said that it was benevolent snake and did not hurt people. Some people according to them believe that the dead live behind the fence.
Oct.29.
Clifford
was vexed with Frederick
and Obidiah
as Obidiah
said that only Ndiel would carry for D.O. Clifford
said that they already carried for Goodman and me and that this should be enough.
October 30. Nya Medicine by S. Zielinski
.
Gregory
's father gave to Kieron
and Gregory
have to Tom
and at the latters' death gave to S. Zielinski
. S. Zielinski
had had back pains. Gregory
gave him some medicine to cure them and they then decided that he should have all of the medicine. Now they are thinking of giving Nya medicine to Ibrahim
.
Nov. 1st Gembu.
Lamidos council from Mambila District, that is to say members from this area are Chief of Gubi (Mambila)
Fulani chief of Mayo Daga
Darius
.
Nov. 1st. Council Meeting.
Many Mambila chiefs attend, but Darius
say that they are always late. He explained that the council might decide that there should be no farming on the Mambila plateau, if chief were not there. They must come on time to defend their interests. The Council was explained the procedure to follow in case of farmer grazier dispute.
The farmer goes to the chief of the town, the grazier goes to Arnardo (Fulani chief). Then the farmer and chief and grazier and Arnardo get together. The Veterinary Mallam says the Arnardo's do not try and really settle disputes.
Some Fulani chiefs said that Mambilas refused to build fences when told to do so by the ordinary Fulani. D.O. asked who had given Fulani right to give such commands. Fulani said that Darius
had told them that they had this right. Darius
denied having said so D.O. said that he did not want Fulani to tell Mambila what to do, but rather wanted them to discuss, Arnardo and Mambila chief on equal footing, and then settle disputes. Mambila said that cows should not be allowed near where crops are growing.
(About 11:00 A.M. 80 people at meeting.)
Some Fulani say that they have offered Mambila money to build fences, but the latter have refused. One Fulani said that he had offered £2 and been refused.
Mambila chief of Gembu said as water was spoiling crops the Mambila now wished to start planting crops on hill. Darius
said to him to arrange it with neighbouring Fulani. Veterinary Mallam (a Fulani) said that Fulani should not sell cow meat of cow that was sick or had died on its own. The Fulani appeared to agree, but were not happy and further discussion with them showed that they would continue in the future as in the past. Vet. Mallam explained that selling such meat spread diseases among people as well as among cows.
Most of discussion was concerning Fulani matters, their respective areas controls etc.
Nov.1.
Tatschop= carved figures of man and woman put in guinea-corn houses. Used in Mbamga but not Warwar, though Nyap of Tiker had heard of them. He doesn't know why they dont use them here in Warwar.
Nov.2nd Council Meeting.
Darius
said that most important subject of discussion was motor road. He gave it big build up, pointing out that price of salt was 13sh in Ndu and 35 sh in Gembu and other high prices due to costs of carrying. He said that if you want to eat guinea-corn, you don't just wish it there, it requires hard work, the same applies to the road. He explained that labourers would not get paid but would be given meat and other things. Chief of Ngubin asked whether Fulani would work. 4 members of the Northern Elements Progressive Union are propagandizing against road. Darius
spoke against them, and some of his stooges said that they should be pitched out. Darius
sent to Don Dokas to go and get them and see that they were here tomorrow. If some Mambila dont want to work, Don Doka will go and get them, bring them to Gembu and imprison them, this was policy put forward by Fulani. Some of Mambila chiefs said if they were made to work too much they would go to French side. Chief of Kabri and Dowduwao talked against forced labour.
Nov. 3rd. Johnson
's Illness
Johnson
today gave a goat to all of the big people. His father had had a dispute with the now deceased Xavier
. He had taken some of Xavier
's corn, as he had said that Xavier
had planted on his own fields. This done in spite of the fact that the custom is that one should never take another's crops even if planted on ones own farms. Johnson
thought that this act was making him ill, so he gave goat to all of the big people of Warwar as settlement. One leg went to Tiker, one to Ndiel, one fore leg to Tscharl and to Tigul. This shows that ones responsibility is not to ones hamlet alone, but to whole village.
Nov. 3rd. Deverell
making medicine for Johnson
.
Deverell
said that he made Mavullap for Johnson
as he had held a child of his daughters in his arms. Evidently the mothers father often does this, but it may make his arms and legs sore in which case the medicine has to be made. The son in law would give the chicken to his father in law and the latter would have the medicine made. The taboo applies equally to the mother of the mother, and in some cases paternal grandparents have to have the medicine made. The Mavallup man hands the child to both grandparents with some special grass and only then will illness stop. Also after this the child can be handled with impunity.
Nov. 4. Johnson
s Illness
Today he is worse. We brought him palm wine, but he didnt drink it. Others drank it. He could hardly talk, coughed and seemed very weak.
Nov. 4. Nyap Tiker and Tschuk.
Nyap has three stones near the door of his compound. His father placed them there. He says that they are called Kell. Individual stones have no names. Have nothing to do with deceased ancestors as far as he knows. They may have but he knows nothing about it if they do.
Nov. 4. Blacksmithing.
Saw Ibrahim
beating out a chisel. Heated it very hot then plunged it into cold water. This he said made it stronger. Nyap (Tiket) put a special grass in the fire to make it burn hotter.
Nov. 4th Elton
s wife Palaver.
Elton
s wifes case finished and Elton
got neither children nor bridewealth returned. The people say that now things are changing and children should belong to the father if wife runs away. They said that D.O. made this change. They belive that D.O. changed the law so that children should belong to their father. Mallam Taffi was court clerk at the time. Actually I think that it is Mallam Taffi who himself made the change.
Nov 4th. Denzil
s loom.
65 feet. long. The place where he works is roughly in the centre, 28 feet from one end and 37 feet from the other. The end of the string is tied on to a stick which is tied on to two poles standing upright in the ground. The thread is kept divided by a piece of wood. Further technical details given in the notes.
Denzil
does not know where or how Mambila learned to weave. Rodney
taught him and Adrian
taught Rodney
. When whole cloth woven they will cut it into strips. Women know neither how to weave or to spin.
Nov 4. Mallam Taffis wife.
She came from Mbarr to Ron
's compound about a month ago. 12 days ago she delivered a son. A previous daughter came with her.
Will Abaza
's daughter died. She lived on the farms in Tiket.
Nov. 4. Tang.
Brett
brought me a Tang. They are used to blow during Mboashoa and if a big man dies. They blow them when shoas are dancing. Women can not only see them being blown, but also blow them. Oil or butter is put in them before blowing so that they will sound nice.
Nov. 4. Fishing
Women fish with basket called "Gar". Men don't know how to use them. They hold the basket between their legs and with their hands frighten fish in basket. Only men fish with hook and line. Worms placed on hook. Termites or meat can also be placed on hook. Fish traps. In narrow place on Streams. Sticks are driven into ground. Woven grass between sticks forms traps. They are caught as cant swim back against current. Men set these traps. anyone can put a trap where he wishes.
Yum is fish poison. The tree looks like Tin. Women get the leaves. Smash and grind them. Throw them into water. Fish come to the surface. Women come and collect them in baskets. Pregnant women must take elephant grass stalks and make small cut in their belly before going to fish or they wont get any.
Nov.4. Menstruating Women by John
and Irving
.
Men can eat food cooked by menstruating women, but cannot have intercourse. Nabvul Todjoa= menstruating woman. Menstruating woman can neither sow nor cover guinea-corn seeds while planting. She can drink corn beer. She can plant corn. At Mang they are not allowed to come through compound gate or they will loose much blood, nor can she go through special entrance made for Jujus. Some males with special medicines cannot eat food prepared by menstruating women. If any taboos on Menstruating women, the penalty is that they will bleed much.
Nov.5. Pottery.
A person who has touched eggs cannot touch a pot that is being made or the pot will break in the fire. Eggs should not be brought near where pots being made. During last ten days many pots made. Brett
and wife, Frederick
s wife, Archibald
s wife and in Adrian
s compound they are being made. Any person can make them if they know how. Abraham
and other small children in Rodney
s compound were making small ones for play, but meanwhile learning how to do it.
Nov 5. Jujus
Roland
said that he could sell me a juju with medicine if he gave all of the big people a goat, but he is afraid to do so, saying that then witches would attack him and place blame on shoa.
Nov. 6. Elias
's mother did not go through Shoa entrance on main path, as she said that she had something in her basket to sell, and if she did, then she would not find a buyer.
Nov.6.
Arrived in Rodney
s compound. There we found the Yung Bell and two small snakes of iron called Boo Nu set up. Boo Nu is said to represent lightning. Chicken feathers and a knife were lying near the bell. Medicine was being made for Rodney
s sister, who is the wife of Elias
's father. Medicine called Giling. He makes the medicine so that if someone tries to bewitch her he will die. Alasdair
from Vokude taught him the medicine, the latter married Rodney
's sister. He, Rodney
, gave him £1. hoe, spear and chicken as well as an old hoe for the medicine. This is not the same bell as used for swearing or detecting thieves. The symbols of lightning are used to make lightning hit the witch. He does not know who is bewitching his patient but is certain that lightning will kill whoever it is.
Nov.6. Elias
's fathers wife still in Rodney
s compound.
Nov.6. Johnson
's Illness.
When we arrived Johnson
was lying under the grain store. Mats had been put around it so that it was completely enclosed. His wife, sister and other women went in. Nyap followed. Nyap asked Johnson
what to do with some palm wine trees, and Johnson
said to give them back to the relatives of some deceased big man who had asked him to take care of them, that is the trees. Nyap asked Johnson
whether there was any hidden property and Johnson
said that he would not talk as there were too many people about, he would tell him later when they were alone. Johnson
speaks so unclearly that only Nyap understands him. Johnson
was angry at one of this "sisters" because she had run off with a young man who had not given a cock and a spear. Nyap said that he should not be angry as girl could not help it. Nyap told him to bless the sister, which he did by saying Kissum, then he also said it for her husband. Later Johnson
told Nyap to say, that if their sisters married to take country things, such as hoes, fowls etc. but not much money. He said that money led to trouble if the girl wanted to divorce. Johnson
said never to take more than £3 or £4.
The girl that Johnson
Exchanged (the daughter of his full sister) came to see Johnson
. Cecil
went in to see him. Renton
too came. Johnson
shows them that is Renton
and Cecil
the whistles and tells them of medicine for Tu and Gir.
Nove. 7. Johnson
illness.
On way to Tiket we met Elton
who said Johnson
was suffering much. He was going back to his compound to get his children. He had married a daughter of Johnson
.
Johnson
had said to bring all of the family to him. When we arrived there were many people there, including all of the residents of Elton
and Nyap (t) compound, Johnson
's real sister Harry
(Tscharl) Deverell
, Terry
's father. Ibrahim
said that things were hard as they had no money to buy corn beer, and that Johnson
was making too much trouble and they didnt even have enough time to cook food. Either he should hurry up and die or get well.
Harry
made medicine for Johnson
. He touched leaf on forehead chest and temples of Kul. Then gave him a bit of beer to drink. This medicine to stop pains in the chest.
Cahill
, Cecil
, Renton
and Henry
come. Harry
says that they should call Roger
to make XXXia medicine.
Jack Kennedy
's wife had corn beer to sell. She dashed the people in Johnson
s compound a jug. Elton
had his daughter bring them a pot. I bought a pot from Kennedy
's wife. Cecil
said that women should come out from under the grain store as Johnson
might want to talk about secret things and he could not if women were there. Some women agreed and left, but not all. Johnson
says that he want Frederick
to come and make medicine for him. Cecil
and Cahill
are angry because so many people are sitting in compound. He say that they should go to Nyap (T) compound, saying that a lot of people should come only if he dies.
After my lunch, all big people from Tiker there. Also Adrian
, Harold
. Harold
asked Johnson
to confess all of his evil deeds especially those towards S. Zielinski
. They think that the bell is making him ill because he took the chieftainship away from S. Zielinski
and gave it to Obidiah
. Harold
's wife (Johnson
s daughter) came in the morning and stayed all day. Many people ask him to confess all of his sins so that he will get well. Harold
is only one of many. No one form Tscharl here, only Bartholomew
from Tigul.
Johnson
confesses to having driven S. Zielinski
from the compound but that is all. The big people say that he should talk about taking the chieftaincy away, but he doesn't. Cahill
, Bartholomew
and Elton
press him, but he refuses to admit guilt.
Some years ago medicine made to insure that anyone sending another away would be made ill and this they believe has made Johnson
ill. Frederick
was supposed to come make medicine, but he is ill and cant come. Johnson
held by others in sitting position while talking, all women had left.
Aidan
s Affinal Relationship (November 8)
Aidan
s wife's father brought a pot of corn beer at Nathan
s compound and brought it to Aidan
as his maternal half sibling died. The death occurred about a month ago.
Nov 8. Johnson
Illness.
When we arrived Elton
was telling why he was vexed with Johnson
. He angry because Johnson
tried to send Samuel Z.
away, and because he took the fence medicine away from him. Earlier Johnson
had given it to him. To fix things up fence medicine (Nam) is to be made for Johnson
and Elton
. All of these confessions are done under the grain store, but are done with such a loud voice that those outside can hear all. Elton
says that Johnson
stopped his sisters living in other towns from visiting him, by saying that they accused his wife of bewitching them. One of the sisters came out to the front and said in a loud voice that Elton
talked too much. Nyap (T) was very angry at this saying that Elton
was just saying what he wanted to say and telling all bad things and that this was all to the good. Elton
then made Nam medicine. Johnson
s wife and sisters ate outside of the house, which is rather unusual, but not prohibited. No comments made by males in the audience. Today sisters of Johnson
are much gayer as he appears to be getting better. About 11:00 A.M. Cahill
came. Elias
's fathers wife came with Rodney
's wife. Elias
's fathers wife is Johnson
s sister. Rodney
's mother's mother was from Johnson
's man, therefore Johnson
is Rodney
's brother. Adrian
and Gregory
not Johnson
s brothers.
Nyap (T) suddenly became very angry and started shouting at all of the women who were sitting around, saying that they were not helping at all and should go away and do some work. Cahill
, Cecil
and other men likewise got excited and saying that women should go and work. Most of them were Johnson
's sisters. They ignored the diatribe and soon the excitement died down and no more was said. After awhile some but not all went away. There were two reasons for the outburst. The first the men thought that Johnson
might want to talk about secret things such as medicines of jujus. Secondly there is a fear of witchcraft. The men feel that the women are better at this than men and fear them. Whenever anyone is ill they fear the presence of witches, as witches said to often attack sick man.
So far there has been a tremendous interrogation of Johnson
. Two categories of questions were asked, one had he any hidden property and about the medicines he owns, whether they have all been passed on. Secondly had any unconfessed sins which were causing his illness. The latter questions seem to be asked by everyone. Both types of questions were asked both by members of his family and others. They have been badgering him about his sins for the last three days. During the early part of his illness too, the big men tried to keep women away. When I left, Cahill
, Cecil
, Renton
and a very distant brother were talking of the past with Johnson
. One subject that Johnson
discussed at length was his attempts to marry Charles
's mother. He mentioned all of the gifts that he gave her. This is not important as his heirs have no claim on the gifts. He merely seems to be enjoying reminiscing. Today he is much stronger. Is able to sit by himself. Was washed by some of his brothers including Herbert
and Elton
. Was very annoyed when they sat him in the sun naked. He insisted that they bring him his blanket. He feared that the women would see him naked.
Nov 8. Pottery making.
Seen at Frederick
's compound, Aylmer
filling in the bottom of a big pot. He scrapes up the side until a bulbous projection stands out at the bottom. The projection then squeezed off by hand leaving a rough bit that must then be scraped off. The early as well as final smoothing is done by a stick with a flat edge, which is occasionally dipped in water. The bottom can only be filled in when the mouth has hardened enough to stand the weight of the pot as while working it rests on the mouth. This usually takes a half a day to dry to required hardness. It is left for this drying in the sun. The potter walks around the pot as no wheel known. Pots can be made any time even after the death of a big man.
Nov 9th. Johnson
John
says that he heard that they had asked big ant about Johnson
, but doesn't know who asked. Big ant said that he vexed for Samuel
and Samuel
vexed for him. Dead people are angry about this. Does not know whose big and used, but thinks it was done on the 7th. Reason that Elton
made Nam medicine is that big ant said John
and Elton
vexed at each other
Nov. 9th Johnson
and Kati.
Kati was supposed to be danced at Tiker, but as Johnson
was sick the big people did not want it done there. They asked Johnson
whether it could be danced at Tscharl instead and he said yes. The big people at Tscharl said that if dance were held there it would be as if they did not like Johnson
. So not held there. The corn beer that had been made for Kati in Tiket was drunk, but no loud drumming as they said it would disturb Johnson
, and stop him from sleeping.
Nov 11th Funeral feast via John
According to John
big feasts are held about a month after a person dies, in most towns. This is not the case at Warwar. He has gone to Mang where a dinner is being held for his deceased sister. All kin are supposed to come. Theresa
wont go as she is angry with John
. This annoys John
a great deal. He says that his family will be angry over this. He plans to retaliate the next time one of her kin dies. All kin are expected to come including affines and make contribution. John
has bought two chickens and will try and get palm wine.
At Warwar don't have this feast. When a person ill here, all relatives come, at Mang when a person ill not all relatives come around. One or two persons take care of the sick person and others not allowed to see him.
Nov.11th. Dance held at mission so that Goodmans could tape and film. First and only time saw people dancing without beer. Mainly all Christians. Were dashed a bag of salt which Obidiah
divided. He was oldest man present, since assembly of almost 100 were mainly young boys and girls, a few older women but very few.
Nov.12th. Right toe.
On way to Nyap of Ndiels compound met Cadogan
who said that he had just stubbed his right toe and therefore expected me to give him something. This is third time since my arrival that I have heard such statements.
Nov.12. Baptisms
I hear that 13 Christians are to be baptised in Warwar at the end of the month and 33 in Dorofi.
Nov 12. John
Marriage.
Theresa
was pregnant twice before marrying John
. Both times it was with a man from Kabri. John
was angry with the man as he was already working farm for Theresa
's family and this man should not be sleeping with her. Both times a miscarriage occurred.
Nov.12. Rape.
If a girl is found in the bush and rape is attempted she should cry out if assailant caught by her kin or neighbours he would be beaten. If he succeeded in peace she would probably be ashamed to recount her experience. If she did tell her family might be angry, but could do nothing, no steps would be taken to punish the rapist. This explains why girls usually go about in groups, even on very short walks. The excuse given by unmarried girls is that they were taken by force. This is often just a cover used to protect themselves. They must confess who is the father.
Nov.12. Rathbone
on market and and kinship of Tscharl people.
Rathbone
said that he would wait until we went to see Roland
before he would discuss kinship as he claims not to know very well. At first he said all people of Tscharl were of one MEMIN. Then after a time he said some were strangers and would not inherit cargo. Did not want to give genealogies until Roland
was present. This is again an example of them visualizing a hamlet as one unit and the resentment felt when I try and differentiate between those who are full members and those who are not. They do not like to differentiate between the two even among themselves. At first I thought that they were afraid to give genealogies to me, but am now almost certain that it is merely dislike of differentiating between members of the unit that they don't like.
Nov.12. Corn
Nyaps wife came by with a small basket full of corn that she had bought for two shillings. It contained 9 1/2 tassas. This according to Nyap is first that they have bought this year. He still has some in his stores but doesn't want to use it all up. He says that he may continue to buy if market is good and if not will use his own. Says that his crop was not as good as he had hoped and therefore did not have a very large supply.
Nov. 12.Shoa Tulli
Shoa Tulli= Juju of Night
Only people with a special kind of medicine can see them. Gwimin (John
's father brother has it). Many years ago John
asked him about it, and Gwimin was vexed saying not to ask him foolish questions. Johnson
has it also. Only a very people know anymore about it than its mere existence.
Nov 12. Snake Living at Dance Place.
Its name is Tschul. It sleeps near the fenced off area. Adrian
says that it is harmless. If someone sees it they give it food palm oil and corn flour. No one would harm him. Adrian
says the snake is for Jir medicine.
Nov 12. Johnson
Died.
Graeme
came to the house very early to tell me. John
said that Nyap (Ndiel) had heard them beat the drum, but he hadn't. We rushed up and found about 75 men sitting in the compound around three fires. People mainly from Tiket, a few from Tscharl and Ndiel as well as those who had come from afar. Big men all under storehouse with the corpse. No wailing going on. Women who come, hide their eyes and rush into the house, that is the living house. Harold
, Adrian
and Edmund
are going to make Tu medicine. Ibrahim
and Ray
are going to make Jir medicine. Man, woman and small drum are all in compound and lying on their side. About five Jujus are beneath storehouse. Tscimbui a juju made of a broken calabash are there. Edmund
to make Tu medicine in the future. Ibrahim
says that Johnson
took Jir medicine away from him and therefore he does not want to make it now. Renton
and Nyap (t) tell them to hurry up and make the medicine, Cahill
adds his two cents worth. They want medicine made before sun comes up. Rodney
, Gregory
, Dyson
, Clint
, Harold
are people from Ndiel. Apparently Johnson
was vexed with S. Zielinski
, Elton
was angry at Johnson
for this so Johnson
took away his Jir medicine. He did the same for Marcus
and Ibrahim
because they tried to support Samuel
. Renton
says that medicine will be given back to them, Nyap agrees. They will not perform an autopsy on Johnson
as he had big medicines. Ibrahim
says that if they make medicine he wont come. He is very excited. He says as Johnson
told them to go they, that is Marcus
, Elton
and Ibrahim
will have nothing to do with the medicine.
A small three tube bamboo flute is brought by small boy. One bamboo taken off and people told not to look. Adrian
and Harold
do something with it. Nyap (T) is very angry jumps around slapping his legs telling all to be quiet while medicine being made. No one pays much attention. They double the covering over the entrance of grain store house so no one can see in. A long stick planted in roof of store house tied to it on a long string is a small pullet. He is left tied with one leg while still alive. Will be left there until he dies. This is because Johnson
had Bel medicine. Oliver
is the man who makes it, Oliver
is from farms at Tiker.
Mvir, a small whistle Juju and Tschimbir are blown by Oliver
and Phineas
(lives in YXXXgs compound) This means that Jujus are crying for Johnson
. A lot of pieces of old metal are taken from medicine house and are rattled. These are Kwurum, rattled by Elton
. Medicine being made in store house but they did not want me to go.
If Jir medicine not made at death of man having it, when made behind fence it will not work. If someone cries before medicine is made they will be stopped.
Cahill
ties some grass to roof of storehouse, it is called Mal. If this not done the crops would not grow well. Another pullet given by Elton
to Peter
who again puts it on a stick put into storehouse roof. Adrian
and Peter
hit ground with a stick making a peculiar screech, this was not supposed to be seen by the audience. Archibald
did not come as his Jir medicine is different from Johnson
s and therefore he did not have to make it. Hal
beats drum with a stick. Adrian
inside the storehouse wails through a flute giving a very eerie sound, this is said to be the Juju wailing for the dead. This Juju called Ka. Ka is a small split bamboo.
Nyap brought a chicken to the entrance of the store house for medicine, but those inside sent it back as they said it was too small. Adrian
, Roger
, Rowan
, Harry
are inside. Lorcan
is going to make Felip medicine (Twin medicine). This done as Johnson
had Man and Woman drum are beaten while lying on the ground, drummers sitting astride them as if they were riding horseback. 4 shields are brought. About an hour is taken up matxx xxx of a section of the compound. Mvir is a tiny round ball like calabash and also a big rattle. Rodney
, Philip
, Chapman
and Terry
's father all blow Mvir or rattle it as also Tschimbir is blown. While so doing they walk around the fire set in the middle of the compound. They seem to be quite gay and begin to dance. The drums are beaten at the same time. This dance called Benin.
Cahill
comes out of the store with Kwurum, which he scrapes along the ground. Goes all around the centre of the compound about six times. He rattes Kwurum at the door of the living house where women are to frighten them, while this is being done the people yell and drums are beaten to add to the effect.
Phillip
from Tscharl has just come. Cahill
gives Nyap (t) a piece of basket handle. He spits on it for blessing. Then men form a circle, at least some of the men, no special type both old and young. Though they all happen to be from Tiket and Tscharl, Ndiel or others could join them. Nyap sings, but in inaudible worlds as he is only grunting. One of his song says that hunger is killing him, what shall he do. another says that he has come to bad place what shall he do. The chorus rattles and sticks, and cries of Oh Oh Oh at the end of the verses. Nyap then sings wrestling song. He hands basket handle to Cahill
who then sings wrestling song and hands basket handle on it going around circle in turn each man singing a song. Women begin to wail when wrestling song starts.
Howard
threw a spear to storage house where Johnson
is. Rodney
took it and will keep it. Man does this only once in his life, he did it as he is married to Johnson
s daughter. Rodney
took it as he is Nyena Nyu. Then Harold
given basket handle and allowed to sing. If he had not thrown spear he would not have been allowed to sing or dance. Dancing continues for some time. Men go into store house, wail as if their hearts were going to break, then come out, many joining quite gaily in the dance. John
at the moment is shaking and crying at the door to the storage hut. All sorts of people are not singing the wrestling song including those from Ndiel and Tigul. 29 people now dancing. About 150 women are outside the mat wailing. Iron rings with ball bearings inside are put on sticks, these are pounded on the earth in time with the drumbeats, by the dancers.
Archibald
, Frederick
and Brett
come together. Archibald
has a Chimbir, Frederick
a Kwurum and Brett
blows a Tang. Cahill
gets his Kwurum from under the store house and joins them. He and Frederick
walk around fire dragging them, they circle fire six times. Then rattle Kwurum against wall of the house and circle fire twice more. Then Cahill
takes burning stick and puts it towards his mouth as if he were going to eat it, but doesn't. Frederick
does the same. Then they put Kwurum back into storage house with Johnson
. Then Frederick
comes out with basket handle and sings very old song, which cannot be clearly understood. I am told that it is supposed to mean that shoas are hungry and food should be brought to them. 4 of Johnson
s hoes have been stuck into the roof of the store house as well as all of his spears. His Yung bell hung outside of the house. They then put 14 ears of corn near the store house, this is for dead people. Humans may eat later, but the dead have taken the best part.
Johnson
is reclining on chair made from bamboos under the store house. Is covered from head to foot with a blanket. People wail in front of him, some going so far as to pluck at the blanket.
Both Cahill
and Frederick
when carrying Kwurum hold a calabash to their face, with the same hand they hold leaves. Frederick
s calabash is covered with a leopard skin, Cahill
s is naked. Very few young boys in the audience. The few here keep quiet, no rule that they must stay away but most do. They do not dance.
Nyaba, Archibald
s Juju, came long before Archibald
himself. It is one made of fibre, like a play juju with no mask of carved wood. The man inside danced around the fire a few times and went into store house leaving it there.
The grave is being dug while dancing going on. Anyone can dig it. It is about five feet deep. A tunnel dug underneath which ends up under the medicine house. This is where Johnson
will be buried, as therefore rain will not fall on him. Gravedigger may be relative but need not be.
Some of the songs are are: "They took Samuel
's chieftainship awayand then took away the Tangana farms," "If the Tiket peopleli ke they can take chieftainship again" "Now Tscharl people suffer as they don't have farms" "Tangana people swore to the bell what will happen to them" "The people who married their sisters will dance until daybreak" "Obidiah
doesn't ??dare?? is the reason that he is a Christian" "As Tscharl people stole chietainship let them work farms with Tangana people". "When D.O. comes they will have him make the boundary". "Young boys musn't die".
The fire that was set in the middle of the compound near the medicines can only be set by someone whose father has died. The songs listed above were each sung by different people. Caspar
sings "If a man is near death, they must bring him cold water to drink", and if a man wants water to drink I shall give it to him."
15 people from Ndarrup filed in each holding a spear and without saying anything to anyone went to store house stood in line and wailed in rhythm. They stopped in concert and ambled into the audience. While they were wailing the dancing stopped but as soon as the wailiing finished it started again. If in the dance one steps on another foot, the two touch each others toe and with their head touch each others breast.
Obidiah
danced and sang saying "all people say that Obidiah
is no good, if he ever stole anything from anyone let them say so".
Cahill
stops the dance. He brings out Kwurum as does Frederick
. Frederick
s wife shouts out that men don't know how to sing. The men joke back and forth across the fence.
Renton
talks while all are quiet. He says that Johnson
became sick on last Kara market. At first he had a bad headache, then all of his body hurt. Then they thought it was all over Rudolf
s farm palaver so he gave goat that it should finish. He then says that if anyone bewitched him he must die, Cahill
and Frederick
rattle their Kwurums. He then says that if Johnson
's estate owes someone something they should claim, and if anyone owes Johnson
something they should say so or Shoa will get them. Kwurum rattled.
If any of the medicines have been forgotten or done badly Tschang should help them anyway, and if anyone tries to spoil any of the medicines they will die. Kwurum rattled. Nyap (T) then said to make spell against witches again which was done and Kwurum rattled. A man from Ndarrup says that if a Warwar man agrees to Tangana taking farms they should die, again Kwurum rattled.
Johnson
s wife comes in wearing white string around her head as he is wearing cloth. Johnson
s daughter wears it around the waist. Isabel
(?) female of Tiket leads Johnson
s daughter to near the store house. She ties two white strings onto her. She puts basket upside down on her head and big basket put upside down on her shoulders. The daughter holding on to her waist. She hit the roof of the store house three times each time taking off a bit of thatch. Isabel
then repeated this with Johnson
s wife. This is always done with a wife and daughter if such exists. When this is done Renton
tells all of the women to leave.
Johnson
was sat on his chair and tied upright in sitting position to two pieces of bamboo. A small bundle of grass was lit. Johnson
carried out. Part of his body had been covered by red ochre, Tschimbir, Ying and Kwurrum brought and made to make noises. Johnson
forced into fetal position and placed in shaft. His head faced S. and feet N. His face was oriented towards East. Yiltami (Tiket farms Man Max
) and Robin
put him in grave. While burial going on most people dancing. All of the big people came to actual burial and some young ones also. Any male can come. Rodney
did most of shoveling of earth, Robin
did a bit. They hit the top of the grave with banana stalks so that it wont crack. It probably has this effect as it saturates the ground with liquid coming from the stalk. Diarmuid
waved Nam leaves three times over the heads of those who had dug the grave and carried Johnson
then three times over the palms of their hands.This is done to drive the spirit of the dead away so that they wont have contact with the living.
A large portion of goat produced for Cahill
, Cecil
, Renton
, Diarmuid
and Nyap (T). 14 rounds of Fufu provided. Actually food is provided for all in attendance. Lots of people come, not much meat since number is large but 15 rounds of fufu come making about a total of thirty. Meat and fufu divided up by Renton
. Divided up by hamlets. Ndiel and Tiket get largest portions. Tigul and Tscharl get less and Ndurrup gets very small part.
Nov. 14 Johnson
s Death.
John
tells me that Nyap (T) told him that Johnson
had said that the dead people came and offered him corn beer, he was about to drink when a small boy said dont drink or you will die and then who will take care of Nyap, Elton
etc. The old people said that he must die as he had treated Samuel Zielinski
and Elton
badly. The small boy took corn beer away. But Nyap says that Johnson
must have lied and drank it otherwise he would not be dead.
Nov 14. Stories about Johnson
.
Johnson
took away Jir (Bel) medicine from Harold
, Elton
, Marcus
and Ibrahim
's son. He did this because when they took Nya medicine from Samuel
and Johnson
told him to go away? Elton
said that if Samuel
forced to go, he would go to, Johnson
then got angry and took the medicine away.
They take medicine away by rubbing Du Yilli with left hand on person from whom medicine to be taken. Johnson
only vexed with Zielinski
and Elton
, but the others asked that medicine be taken away from them too, if it was to be taken from their brothers.
A long time ago medicine was made assuring the Shoa would kill anyone who sent his son, or anyone to whom he was acting in loco parentis away. Johnson
drove Samuel
away and this is what killed him.
Nov. 14. Johnson
cont.
Nyap (T) cooked 3 chickens and fufu for people who danced in the morning. Danced until sun came up high. Nyap also gave four chickens to medicine men who cooked them under the store house where Johnson
was. Gave 2 chickens to Edmund
(Tscharl) who has Tu medicine. Gave one to Peter
and Nevin
(Peter
lives on farm and Nevin
lives in Ned
's compound). These two make Jir medicine which they got from Johnson
. One chicken given to Lorcan
s mother who made the medicine for Johnson
s daughter. Edmund
made Tu medicine day of Johnson
s death. People from Man, Vokude, Yambap were there today. These were people who had married Johnson
s sisters and brothers. They did not bring anything. About 8 Man males came. About 15 Yambap, about twelve from Vokude. They came to wail. Men and women wailed inside the compound. Some of the people are to stay the night.
Nyap and Renton
told all of the people of the Man to bring one chicken each and one calabash of palm wine.
Nov. 15th Johnson
s death.
We arrived at the compound about 9 A.M. About fifty people were eating in Johnson
s compound. 4 people from Mang. Most people were from local compound. Gabriel
was cooking a chicken for medicine. This is Chico medicine, and is to stop cough from coming after big man dies. It is made for the widow and the daughter of the deceased as well as for his "brothers and sisters" that wish it. It is necessary that the participants be of Johnson
s or the dead mans family, but any relationship at all suffices.
John
mother is wearing white strings for Johnson
as well as his wife, daughter and sisters. John
father is also wearing them but these for his daughter.
Henry
makes Gwana (from word Guanama) medicine for a man who married one of Johnson
s sisters. This is done so that his crops will not spoil.
Nyap says that there is some more food, but those present must not eat it as they must keep some in case other people come, as it would be bad not to give them food.
Harold
is only male from Ndiel.
Cahill
, Cecil
, Renton
, Henry
, Diarmuid
, Gabriel
(Tscharl) Harry
(Tscharl) Ibrahim
, Marcus
, Nyap, John
mother and father, Emmanuel
, Vince
, Johnson
s sister and other relatives here.
Chico medicine ends by making small holes in the ground like in new child medicine and drinking beer from it. Then they all cough in the hole and it is covered up. {Drawing of open sideways dumbell/figure of eight} Then Gabriel
beats them with a small stick on the back, saying that they will bear lots of male children. Later says that cough will not come. He then shows them how to use hoe and shows Emmanuel
how to throw spear.
7 young men come from Mverrup in a group, each carries a spear. They wail for about five minutes in front of the storehouse. Then all stop but one who continues longer, the reason that he does so for a longer time is that he is a brother, while the others have only married Johnson
s sisters. While they are wailing, Nyap (T) goes up to them and comically imitates their wailing, this much appreciated by audience and laughter ensues. Some of Johnson
s sisters who are sitting around cry out that the young men did not wail enough, but this is a type of joke and said in a good matured way. Men all carry fine spears, and keep them by their side.
Gabriel
shows Johnson
s wife, his daughter and his sisters how to grind corn, sweep compound and eat bananas.
Food brought to Mverrup people, who all sit together except for the one who is Johnson
s brother who sits alone looking downcast.
A man from Mang comes alone, he walks through the compound, as he is not a kinsman he just walks through, greeting people but does not stop.
The Man people also are carrying their spears. At such gatherings outsiders keep their spears with them while local residents do not.
Nyap (T) scolds the boy from Mverrup, who is Johnson
s brother, for not coming when Johnson
still alive. He goes on for some time about this, boy says nothing. Nyap then explains to him how Johnson
died. The boys name is Anthony
about 30 years old, John
says that he is the son of one of Johnson
s distant sisters.
S. Zielinski
has come to Tiket but does not come to Johnson
s compound. He stays in what used to be his own.
Renton
now scolds Anthony
for not coming sooner, but finishes saying that it is now passed and he is forgiven but not to do it again. Samuel Zielinski
comes in but does not wail. He just comes in and sits down. He came once when Johnson
was sick. Nyap tells Anthony
to come and live in Tiket. Nyap then tells one man from Mverrup that he must throw a spear, so that one of Nyena Nyu can take it, as he did not do so without being asked he must pay something before the spear will be accepted. This must be done once by a person who marries into a family, it is done either at the death of the father or of a brother of the wife. The boy gave Bartlett
one shilling and threw spear. Bartlett
went to get spear and keeps it. (Check whether Bartlett
is a Nyena Nyu or not. In the notes it says that he is brother-) If Bartlett
not Nyena Nyu then it means that it is not only Nyena Nyu who can keep thrown spear.
Nyap then makes medicine for boy who threw spear. He shows him Johnson
s grave and says that this will not make him ill.
Women are preparing grass for the making of baskets. Some men spinning, though most are doing nothing. No prohibition on doing arts and crafts at this time.
Nov.15 Church
32 women, 21 men 20 children. 2 men rubbing sticks one drum.
Ellis
(Ned
's compound) brought own chair. Samuel Zielinski
and Gerald Marsh
, Elias
, John
and another young man. 70% of women are wearing cloths. Women sit on one side, men on the other. A few women sit in the first row of mens section as no space in womans section. Service starts with three or four songs. Teacher then reads from Bible in basic English, then he gives sermon in pidgin. Ian
translates the latter. Then more hymns. Then Sunday school which is teaching. Then more hymns. Then announcements. Songs accompanied by clapping and rubbing sticks.
Church male members have many extroverts who like to push themselves forward such as Ellis
, in Ned
's compound, Will Abaza
, S. Zielinski
, Gerald Marsh
and Gerald
talks most of the time, about 50% of the time not used by teacher or Ian
. Will Abaza
is close competitor, but his speciality is giving orders to the people. He also looks threateningly at mothers whose children are screaming and tells them to keep quiet, he is usually ignored.
Church had much bigger attendance right after the missionaries came, attendance being about 150 at that time, and they found it necessary to hold services outside of the church. Now is has fallen off, and back to previous number, the old familiar faces are still there but new people have tended to drop away. Some of the outlying churches have increased their membership greatly. Dorofe is to have 33 baptisms while Warwar has only 13. The falling off of attendance is largely due to Goodmans. They are very nice, but are cold to the Mambila. The people dont like him, and they complain that he wont play with them. If Amos
were here the whole village would be Christian in no time, at least the younger element.
Nov.15. Cola Nuts and Onions.
Nyap (Ndiel) told me that the Mambila used to believe that if they planted either cola or onions they would die. I believe that the Hausa and Fulani started this story to stop Mambila from growing them and therefore they would have to buy them. Perhaps it might have originated from Banso traders, who pass on their way to Yola with head loads of colas and come back bearing onions. Ian
and John
agree to my hypothesis. Fergus
a long time ago had a Hausa plant a cola tree for him as he was afraid to do so himself.
Nove.15. Mambila selling habits.
When they bring me something to sell they ask a completely fabulous price. They then invariably climb down. By and large I have paid a bit more for things than normal but not too much. Should I begin by offering inflated price they go even higher. I offered Ibrahim
13 shillings for his two tangs, saying that I knew that this was too much but wanted to help him. He immediately said that he wanted £1. without batting any eye. I stuck and he came down. Normal price would be about 4 shillings each. Charles
brought me a well decorated mat, he said that he wanted 15 shillings. I said no that I did not want it, but would give him 5 shillings for it. He hemmed and hawed for about 1/2 an hour and finally sold it for 5sh. having offered it at five different prices between 15 sh and 5 in the interim. However the raincoat that the man in Frederick
's compound made for me, I offered him for 7 sh and 6 d. about 1sh over market price. He refused to sell saying that he would sell it for 7 sh or nothing. Finally it was impossible to make a bargain so he kept it.
Tscharl Nov 16th
Members of one family: Rolland
, Sinclair
(His father was a full sibling of Rolland
) Maxim
, Rathbone
, Bryan
, Caron
(Pat. half sib of Rathbone
), Brooke
, Roger
, Gabriel
, Edmund
, Marion
, Carol
, Harry
.
Carol
and Sinclair
had one mother.
Sinclair
and Bryan
of kin group but doesn't know how. Mother of Shelley
's mother had same father and mother as Bryan
. Marion
they don't know how related. The dead Marion
s mother married at Tinguer and bore Marion
. Then she married Keston
at Ndarrup and bore Searle
. In obtaining genealogy at Tscharl it once more became apparent that people become vexed when they learn that others have given me their names and info about them. They usually don't like to talk about others.
Nov.16. Market.
Roger
and Rathbone
say that market belongs to them that is to their family. At first market here in Tscharl. That is why it belongs to them. They could stop people from coming to it, if they wished but they wont. They say that they look after it to see that others don't spoil it. They make medicine so that if someone comes to try and bewitch another or steals something, that Shoa will get them. Rathbone
is the man who makes the medicine. He makes the Native Chief medicine. Market moved to where it is at present when Theobald
was chief. The Mission asked that this be done as it was difficult for their people to come to Tscharl when rains hard and area flooded. Rathbone
and Rolland
said that people to come to Tscharl when rains hard and area flooded. Rathbone
and Rolland
said that they could move it back if they wished.
Nov.16. Johnson
s death.
While in Johnson
s compound two men from Kara were there. They said that a very big man from Kara wished to come but that he was too old, therefore he sent them. The big man has said that Nyap must send him a chicken. Nyap said that he had none but would give 3 sh. They said that this was not enough to buy chicken and argued for more. Nyap stood firm and finally got them to agree to 3 sh. Chicken was to be used for food, not medicine. The big man is older than Johnson
.
Delegation came from Gembu, about twelve men of varying ages. Filed in silently with their spears. Elton
gave them two rattles without a word being spoken. They wailed for a few minutes then Elton
took back rattles and put them in house. Two men came from Dembe, one went into storehouse and wailed other did not. The one who went in was Johnson
s brother, the other came merely to keep him company. Gembe two sit alone until others from here come to join them. Gembu people also sit alone in a group. Many more men come from far away than do women. Several women came while he was sick, but none have come after first few days after death. Stranger from Dembe tells Nyap not to worry about Johnson
as all people must die. He continues to talk of floods in Dembe, then Nyap tells long story about how the flood trapped V. Zielinski
. People from Gembu leave after about one hour without having been given food.
Nov. 16. Incest
Marcus
married his sister.
Roger
's mother bore Marcus
s wifes mother. Marcus
s wifes mother married Archibald
. Archibald
was father of Marcus
s wife, also his sister. Girl living at Archibald
s compound, when Marcus
eloped with her. She bore two children with Marcus
but both died, so she married at Mang. There she did not conceive either so she returned to Archibald
s compound, where she is now
Nov.16. Fowls
If fowls carried across water, they will not lay for a long time, unless they are carried on a persons back like a child. This told me by Ian
and is connected with the idea that bride must be carried across stream on a man's back.
Nov. 16. Leopard Men
Ian
says that he knows that men can turn into leopards, the same men can also turn into hawks, if they want to escape. If a father who has this power, sees that his son who has turned into a leopard while still small is in danger, he will hurry to come to his rescue.
Nov.16th Power of Women.
A time ago Cadogan
's wife refused to have any of the Mukada's entourage sleep in one of their houses. Though Frederick
and Adrian
argues against her, her word was taken as final, and her continued refusal respected. Today a Bororo came to Clifford
's compound and tried to buy firewood. Clifford
wanted to sell it to him, but the wife from Kabri refused. She said that she did not have enough, Clifford
argued for a long time and finally she agreed. His argument was that it was not right to refuse to help strangers. He admitted that if his wife had continued to refuse he would not have been able to sell any.
Nov. 17th. Dreams.
Last night John
dreamt that he was walking by Tiker dance place with J. Kennedy
. They saw Johnson
there weaving, Johnson
was very fat. Both John
and J. Kennedy
were very frightened and hurried off. Johnson
did not speak to them.
Clifford
s Dream. He dreamt that he saw an aeroplane. His cousin from Vokude in it. The cousin as well as Fulani people came out of plane. A Fulani man opened his mat and took out a pan which he tried to sell to Clifford
. Clifford
asked whether the plane carried nothing but pans. Fulani man also tried to sell him food, but it was bad food. He asked his cousin what the aeroplane was like and she said that inside the plane one had to keep quiet or the aeroplane would fall. He asked more, and she said that she would not answer his foolish questions. Clifford
then woke up.
Nov. 17th. Terry
's mother now sleeping in Frederick
's compound as she is sick
Nov 17. Clifford
AND HIS WIFE
Clifford
says that his wife, not the Kabri one, is angry with him. She cursed his mother's sexual organs and also his fathers. Clifford
sent her away. He says that if someone does this he never wants to see them again, even if the person were a white man. He doesn't want her to come back. She went to sleep in Frederick
's compound. He handed her a stick that was on the fire, this is a sign that you want your wife to leave.
Clifford
gave a cock and a spear £2. and six chickens for her. Also 10sh to one of her brother when he wanted to get married, 15 sh. To another and 5 to another all when they wanted to marry. Also gave £1. To her mother. Also worked farm for her. He does not expect to get it back, he was not through paying. He then thinks that she is a witch, that is his wife. He says that he wont summons her as they have child. If when the child gets big enough and they wont give it to him, then he may summons her for bride price return. He paid a Fulani man £1. To make medicine to make her conceive, as she was a long time without conceiving. Shortly after medicine made she conceived.
Nov.18. Ngam or Land spider.
We went to Garth
s to consult land spider on my behalf. First Garth
got out leaves, chicken feathers and sprig of leaf which smelt like mint. He brought burning wood and burned chicken feather and let it drift over leaves. Then he bit mint leaves and spat over the other leaves. Then we left for bush. 5 minutes walk away, we found overturned pot. He lifted one up and blew smoke into the hole, and rubbed pot with porcupine quills. Muttered something. Asked me for money, this must be done before consulting Ngam. I gave him 3d which he then inserted in porcupine quills, he then put in leaves on top of hole and a stick and a stone. If Ngam touches the stick then answer is yes, if stone is no. He then closes up the top with pot and we do the same thing for another Ngam. The Ngam comes out and pushes over leaves and touches stick while we are gone. He then inverts the two, asks the same question and leaves. He read from the way Ngam had pushed the leaves that I would give fowls for my wife, that she would cook food for me and that she would conceive.
People with Ngam medicine.
Ndiel: Harold
, Frederick
, Garth
. Tiket Hal
, Cahill
. Tigul, Bartholomew
, Bryce
. Tscharl: Ross
, Sinclair
.
Garth
says that he can give the medicine to anyone, they need not be of his family. The smoke is blown into Ngam hole, because ostensibly the Ngam likes smoke. The leaves are placed over the hole. When they talk of Ngam touching the stick or stone they mean that in sticking his head out he pushes the leaves in one direction or another. Either in the direction of the stick or the stone. In both cases the leaves moved only slightly in the direction of the stone or stick. The large number of leaves are just pushed a bit. The whole thing took about an house and a quarter. Women cannot consult the Ngam directly but they can consult the cut sticks method, though they dont know how to do it themselves.
Nov.18. Witchcraft.
John
and Ian
both agree that a witch can bewitch a person who owes them money whether related or not, that is if debtor refuses to pay back when asked. Implied threat of witchcraft often used in settling debts.
Nov 18.
Catherine
, Harold
s daughter was given to Johnson
about a month ago. She helps them with work. Johnson
s kin will get the bridewealth as Harold
s oldest daughter when married, the bride price went to Harold
. John
mother and father sent his full sibling to live with he and Theresa
to take care of Amos
and help Theresa
with other work.
Nov 20. Niall
(Tigul)
Niall
has been sick for a very long time. He is lying on a mat in the sun. Does not seem to be very ill. Few people in the compound. Only a few young men and women making pots. Many people in Tscharl making pots today. One woman making them by coil method. Measured a loom at Tigul. 49 feet in one direction from where weaver sits, 63 feet to the other.
Nov.20 Pottery
All pots seem to be made by coils method, Coils about a foot long. One laid on top of the other then squeezed together. Then sides of pot scraped making a flat surface. Saw Archibald
s wife cooking her pots. big mound of dried grass set up with pots inside. Grass lit, fire burns very hot and for a long time.
Nov 21. Tiket Farms
Went out to farms to see corn beer sale going on. Almost all there were inhabitants of the farms. They give larger cups of corn beer for 1d there as there are far fewer clients. This applies equally to Tiket but to a lesser degree, as there are fewer clients than in Ndiel, as they are not so near to the market.
Nov 21. Took census of Tiket farms. A bit difficult, five compounds were done at corn beer sale. Heads of compound a bit reluctant to talk, but after some browbeating they came forward and did their job. All done in about four hours. Checking proved that it was accurate.
Nov 21. Learned that circumcision will be done after Tsimbir.
Nov. 22nd Vokude medicines.
In Vokude a woman has fence medicine. We saw her distributing Lobal in several compounds. A girl was helping her. In her compound she spat 3 times on 3 stones in her own compound. They were not upright as cooking stones but lying flat on the ground. She said that it was no stones that she was giving beer to, but the grass under stones. This was done so that illness would not come to compound. This is part of fence medicine. Evidently here women as well as men have always had fence medicine, but men have it too. Only two women can go behind fence here to see jujus. The woman herself and her daughter who helps her. If her marry they must stay in the village. The mother is married to a man who came from Vokude, the daughter not yet married. They evidently go to all of the compound in Vokude to deliver Lobal.
4 Kassalas in Vokude.That is four hamlets.
She only makes fence medicine for two hamlets, two others make it differently. 4 young men come each blowing a wooden flute they came to chiefs compound, followed by a flock of small boys. Circled compound once and then walked out. They do this only for the first two hamlets. All the females either ran away or hid their eyes. The older ones hid their eyes, the younger ones ran away. The chief is both European and native chief. He carries a bush cow tail and has a peculiar shaped stool. First European chief was his father's brother. The second his paternal half brother and the third him. He is very old, older than Frederick
and blind. The woman who makes fence medicine is Warren
's mother. Her husband has Mambila bow and arrow. Has poison on the end, has no metal at all.
People who came from Warwar to Vokude for Bel (Jir) medicine. Ndiel-Frederick
, Clint
, Nyap, Roland
, Langley
, Malachi
. Tiket Henry
, Bartlett
, Bowen
(sleeps in Karel
s compound), Quentin
(Mbar)
compound) Neil
(Cecil
s compound) Jem
(Tiket farms) Stanley
(Tiket farms) Kitty
(Gregory
s wife) was here for market. No one from Tigul and Tscharl.
Behind fence, they would not let us in until Jujus, Ka and Tscimbir had come. Many big men had come. Mostly middle aged men danced with Tschimbir, younger ones with Ka. Two women were behind fence. One drum which a man beat with coiled up grasslike when a man dies. Fire burning. All had taken off their upper body covering except Elias
, John
and I. A man brings a pot of corn beer. All made to sit. Two women with one young man and one older one sit in the centre near a tree. Young man holds a big branch of grass. Older woman drinks beer and then feeds it to the others. She spits on the grass three times. Another young man joins them. People wander around, chat, yell at each other and get angry at each other. People are shouting instructions. One old man says that they must stand when they spit beer. Others disagree, big argument they remain seated. A young man distributes a bit of grass to all adult males in the audience, that is all living in village. Then they made Tschuk medicine. The women had gone by this time. No prohibition against wearing hats. At end of Tschuk medicine they all shout as loud as they can use whistles and make much noise. Again grass distributed over which Tschuk medicine had been made. Blind chief takes out Yung bell, and goes to centre. All keep silence. Chief says that even if in past Vokude used to fight Warwar they must now let Warwar marry their daughters. Yerima adds that Ndarrup also must be allowed to marry their daughters, in spite of reigning farm dispute. Chief rings bell for these two statements. If any man refuses to let his daughters marry into the two towns they must die. If dispute arises in village, they must try and settle it among themselves before taking it into court or Shoa will catch them. Bell rung. Europeans say that people must no longer fight, if anyone does Shoa will catch them. Bell rung. Yerima says if anyone poisons or witches Warwar or Ndarrup people or bewitches his brothers, then Shoa will get them. Bell rung. Each time bell rung Tschimbir blown. In cases of seduction they must take case to chief not to court, he will settle. Bell rung. Yerima suggested this one.
Another big man says if fight breaks out must not go to court. Bell rung. Big people dance around tree. Dance is slow, and they sing Oh. Oh Oh. This is said to be very old song. Chief beats man drum, another big man beats woman drum. Chief beats man drum with bundle of grass. Shortly all men begin to dance. Chief stops beating drum, and begins to beat time on his bell, but this is not for ritual.
Chief stops the dancing. He says as some people having trouble getting brides, the old taboo against marrying sisters should be lifted. He removes the taboo by waving knife in the air and then planting it in the ground. He then says if anyone tries to bewitch one who marries his sister, they must die. He rings bell for this. Announcement greeted with some enthusiasm.
At this moment a group of Ndarrup men come in without spears. Hiram
and Nathaniel
from Tigul come. Many women listen to new regulations and dance outside the fence. Nyena Nyus some very small ones drink the corn beer that is left after medicine made.
Nov 22. On way home from Vokude met Cadogan
. He showed us the river which is the boundary between Vokude and Warwar. He said long ago there were fights between the two towns. Warwar people drove the Vokude people out and they retreated up the hills. By mutual consent boundary fixed where it now lies. In Vokude I saw a man with the kind of sword illustrated by Meek. He refused to sell it and says that doesn't know where one can be found for sale.
Nov 22. Vokude Chief.
The Vokude chief - mother is from Neil
s Man in Tiket. Yerimas mother was from Adrian
s family.
Frederick
came to Vokude but did not go behind fence for medicine. The only Warwar people to go behind fence were John
, Elias
, Malachi
and Roland
.
Nov.22 War.
John
says that when two towns realised that too many people were being killed in war, they would send a Nyena Nyu to the other town to discuss with a Nyena Nyu from their town how to make peace. Or the Nyena Nyu might go to his mothers family for this. That is the Nyena Nyu delegate would be Nyena Nyu of enemy town. He said that Mang people killed so man Titon people that the latter gave them dogs and fowls to stop fighting. Vokude, Mbamga and Mang fought against Warwar, Gembu Yambap.
Nov 22nd. Tatschor.
Nyap (N) says that Adrian
has Tatschor medicine. A few people have it, but it is the type of medicine that only owners can see, so many don't know that it exists. Quite esoteric.
Nov.22. Exogamy.
Apparently the rule that one cannot marry any relative is breaking down in many places. I have heard that it is breaking down in Mang and now Vokude. Maybe in still other place.
Nov 22nd. Courts.
The chief of Vokude as mentioned above rang bell that anyone taking case to court without first attempting to settle it internally in old fashion would be killed by Shoa. This is not first case of this type of legislation. People as a whole don't like courts and especially older people. It has been said that the Administration has issued a rule that all cases be taken to court, and it is not a popular ruling. Only those who think that they may get something for nothing and don't care about public opinion even think of using the courts.
Nov.23. Ian
s wife.
A man whose mother had same mother as Ian
s wife came from Mbamga today. Ian
s wife mother came Mbamga, but father from Vokude, but parents married by exchange so he is responsible to Vokude people. This mans wife died with a small child so that he asks that Ian
s wife comes to Mbamga to give child the breast. Ian
doesnt want her to go. The main reason that he is against it that his wife is ill. She has worms in her eyes.
Nov 23. Adrian
s new compound.
This morning we found Adrian
clearing a place near Brett
s compound. Ian
thought that he was clearing ground for corn, but we learned that he was clearing ground for compound. Place had been planted with Tin trees which he cut down and cleared off grass. He was doing work alone. A few people stopped to talk but only helped him when he had to roll a big log off of the centre of the field. He burned some of the grass that he had cleared. John
and I helped him for about three hours but we were the only ones.
Nov. 23rd. V Zielinski
s New House.
Neal
called people to come and help him work on V. Zielinski
's new house. Neal
is trying Gertrude
. Helping to build were Garth
, Thor
, Herbert
., Nyap, Harold
, Gregory
, Caspar
, Roland
, Irving
, Neal
, V. Zielinski
, Andrei
, Petros
, Hamish
(Johnson
s compound) Roland
from Tscharl came but did no work. Finlay
, Lonnie
, Carr
(Chapman
s compound Tiket) also helped. Women who came Anna (Ian
s daughter), Roberta
, Nyaps wife, Clifford
s wife, Gertrude
, Petros
s wife, Beverley
, Fiona
(Graeme
s wife), Kathleen
, Gwen
, Thor
s wife, V. Zielinski
s wife.
Roland
just passed through coming from seeing Archibald
s wife who was supposed to cook some pots for him. Women carrying water to make mud. Frederick
s wife came but did not work. The same applies for Clifford
s divorced wife. Bits of grass cut up to hold mud together. They are pounded into the mud by foot. Only do this when house is built without permanent wood frame. Ian
s is not working as he is waiting for his wifes brother to sober up enough to leave for Mang. Circumference of the house is 48 feet. They use 44 poles around outside to hold up mud walls. Both men and women make mud. Only women carry water and only men make mud walls and put up posts. Harold
ties a string up eight feet on one of doorposts. It continues around the whole of the house to mark limit of where walls must come.
Harding
a boy of about twelve has same father as Gertrude
.
When mud hardens they take out the sticks. V. Zielinski
and Garth
bring four pots of corn beer. V. Zielinski
says that they will give three pots to men and one to women. Finally they give two to women and three to men. First cup given to Harold
who pours a part near right foot of Gregory
. Gregory
touches it with right index finger. Harold
drinks it. Second cup given to Phillip
who shares with Frederick
's wife. 3rd cup to Phillip
again, 4th Harold
, 5th to Gregory
who gives it to a child, 6th to Archibald
who has just come. While pot for big people being drunk by them younger men drinking their own. Gregory
given another cup. He tells Martin
to take a small sip, then he drinks it, Gregory
immediately given second and then third cup. However people did not keep still as he drank. Gregory
, Harold
, Paul
, Archibald
, Garth
, Petros
were big mans circle. Ibrahim
wanders in and is given a cup. 3 small boys given one cup, each took a part in strict order of seniority.
Men say that women work less hard in housebuilding and hence given less beer. When walls up, sticks put against them to hold them up, both inside and out. Ibrahim
who had wandered in on his own later worked very hard. Nyap (T) who wandered in helped put up sticks to support wall.
Date unknown. Frederick
says that for Gelbon and Tu medicine medicines first cooked on stones to warm ancestors.
Selwyn
Tscharl was leader of Maka.
Order of D.O.'s to visit Mambila area.
Glasson (First) 1939 Bradshaw
Heath 1940 Logan
Izzard (Known as Malafia) 1942 Lawrence-Cox
Blair Cunningham Sing (went mad)
Gill Blaire-Fish
Welch (Known as Dogo Bahunkali of tall fool) MAJOR Moore
Beaver (1932) Mathews
Paul and Percival. (Paul took German flag from Kabri)1934-8 De Boulay
{Notebook 6, not typed up by Rehfisch
F irst sequence, pages unumbered in original }
Selwyn
head of Makka
Edmund
- Li medicine
Get the distribution of property of xxx of the big men who died in the past
Also get a history of the farms that people today are using.
How did xxxxx translate Satan Hell
Satan = Mahal
Hell = Tsir Bviani or Waa
Holy spirit = Chuchu dalli
How are things divided within a hamlet? Do they divide first Adrian
and Frederick
and let them subdivide or how
See if people will xxxxx xxxxxxxxxx made are called both
Percival
says that Tsafi is big medicine - tasafi is unknown here (according to Nyap and Myron
. Check on Frederick
of Gwol and Tschquarl)
Nov 23rd V. Zielinski
s Housebuilding
Deverell
Deverell
was acting like quite a card. He had drunk a bit too much corn beer. He insulted and cursed people ( said "thou mother's head"). He also ordered people around. Told them that they did not know how to work. He played as if he were going to flog V. Zielinski
s mother. She took a stick and chased him about. John
told me he came and got 6 d's worth of corn beer from Theresa
and then refused to pay after it was drunk up. This is evidentally a habit of his. He got some matches from the mission saying that he would buy eggs. He said that he had no intention of giving the eggs. And today was laughing at the missionaries that he had cheated. Evidently he talks so well that the people dont get angry with him. After the house was finished V. Zielinski
s bought out 5 pots of corn beer that he poured into a small basket, and gave 1 pot to the big people. The big people being Nyap of Tiket, Archibald
, Gregory
, Deverell
, Harold
, Herbert
.
The people said they hadn't been given enough. Jake
was the ring leader. V. Zielinski
s got angry. Garth
told him not to be angry and just beg them to take what he had offered. However Leon
was angry and refused to say that it was not enough. The argument lasted for about half and hour during which time only the big people drank from their pot.
V. Zielinski
s stalked away. Garth
went to get him and brought him back. Nyap (Tiket) made a pacifying speech, saying that the corn beer was not very much, but that the work was not very much either.
Earlier Deverell
had twisted up some elephant grass and had placed it near the door of the house, pretending that it was medicine, but actually it was just a joke. All laughed.
Deverell
was much laughed at. He went and carried 4 jugs of water top the mud pile. The people laughed saying that this was womens work, but he said that he was the chief of the women.
He flogged a little boy playfully but just the same the boy cried. Deverell
is the person that the parent's threaten the little children with.
He also said that if the Europeans weren't here he would kill them all, as they didn't work well. He also said that they would all be killed if wars returned as they didn't know how to fight anymore.
After I left V. Zielinski
s produced two more pots. Nyap (Ndiel) says that it was true that he at first did not give enough. But he says if V. Zielinski
s had told the people that there wasn't enough and some time he would make some more for them, they would have been pacified. As it was he told them if that if they didn't like it they could go without drinking any. This is what vexed the people.
Harold
drank the first cup of the big peoples pot. He took three sips and spat after each on the ground. This was for Tschok. As Adrian
is still alive (Adrian
has Tschok) Harold
could not speak the formula, if he had that would have cursed Adrian
.
Nov 23 Nyena Nyus
Nyena nyus may take the first cup of corn beer served. If they do they take three sips each time spitting it on the ground. They recite a formula saying that the peole of the compound will not get sick. This of course applies only to the nyena nyu of the person that is giving the beer.
Nyena nyus may not steal the beer at a sale, but they may at a feast where the beer is not for sale.
Nov 23 Court Cases
Yesterday the chief ringing the bell so that it would punish all those who took cases to court before trying to settle them in the customary manner, seems like a final effort (perhaps not so final) to keep the control of local affairs in the hands of the traditional leaders. I have yet to talk to anyone who thinks that the Mbamga court is a good thing. All fear it, and largely I suppose because Mallam Taffi has been very crooked. In the few cases between Bororo and Mambila, when he is working at the court at Gembu, he generally favors the Bororo as they evidently quite frequently send him meat as presents and even a bit of money. The reason that he has now been sent back to Gembu is that the D.O. suspects that he is up to plenty of tricks, but has no proof.
Nov 24 Copulation.
One can sleep with ones wife even after one has married children. There is no age limit to copulation as long as desire is there.
Jan 3rd Language.
John
says that Tep language is impossible to hear the few words that I heard are very very different from those of the other Mambila languages that I know. Bang language too he says is incomprehensible. This probably due to Kaka influence.
Rain
Oct 11
.122
Oct 12
.934
Nov 1
3.000
Oct 13
2.690 River flooded
Nov 4
trace
Oct 14
.018
Nov 5
.119
Oct 15
.282
Nov 6
.250
Oct 16
.050
Nov 7
.013
Oct 17
.013
Nov 8
.173
Oct 18
1.334
Nov 9
.000
Oct 19
.450
Nov 10
.004
Oct 20
.550
Nov 11
trace
Oct 21
.240
Nov 12
.000
Oct 22
.000
Nov 13
.135
Oct 23
.332
Nov 14
.038
Oct 24
.000
Nov 15
.114
Oct 25-28
.045
Nov 16
.023
Oct 29
.000
Nov 17
trace
Oct 30
.000
Nov 18
.663
Oct 31
.000
Nov 19
24.000
Nov 25 Work after Planting and weeding guinea corn
Major work is building houses.
Women cut the grass and bring it to do the roofing.
Reggie
's compound 2 new houses (1 eating house, 1 for Lawton
)
V Zielinski
1 new house
Nyap's compound 1 new house (for ??Gelbua/Cuthbert
??)
Rolf
's compound 1 new house (for second wife)
Garth
's compound (home for Lawton
) Charles
(eating house)
The women spend a fair amount of time getting firewood. Some go up as far as the top of the hill leading to Gembu. By time I have timed them and they take as long as approx. 3 hours.
Pot making, basket weaving, mat making and weaving are the most commonly indulged in domestic arts.
Basket making and mat making more commonly done between corn and guinea corn. Pipe making is not much done at this time, but new pots are made in practically all compounds. They say that some of the pots are for sale, but as they almost all make them I don't see who they sell them to.
A bit of time is spent by the women going after cassava, yams, and vegetables. Cassava yams and vegetables are considered to be womens work, but men frequently do the work too.
Some men take corn etc. to distant markets.
Men also spend a fair amount of time making medicines at this time.
Nov 25th Burning Farms
Yesterday for the first time I saw a small fire lit to burn grass. At Kabri they have started burning already. In a few weeks it will start in earnest.
Nov 25th Brent
Chief's Month.
It will start when new moon comes next.
The first person to see the new moon shouts and runs to the chief. He was given cock. This is old fashion, but not done now.
>From that day on he retires. Only the big people can see him. He can only see big big women. His daughters or "sisters" prepared chop for him. He stays retired for 20 days. If there is enough chop all people of Warwar can make corn beer. If not all have enough not all will make it.
They used to come all with shields and spears, but now they only use one or two that are in compound rather than haphazardly.
First skin of tiger and chair are bought out. These carried out by nyena nyu. All people dance feverishly. The chief follows the skin and chair circles dancing field 3 time slowly. Then he dances around it three times, then goes back to his compound. He comes out fat. He says that the medicine makes him fat. He doesn't know about vomitting.
They only hit him with the bush cow tail first time that they made him chief.
They used to have iron figure like man, but now they don't have it now. Only Dorofi chief now uses.
They dont make medicine when he is retired but only the day he cooks corn beer.
??Lalina/??Labina?? makes medicine for him that day. They don't know what its for, but they heard that their fathers said that if they did this then illness would not come to Warwar and chop will grow well.
When there was no native chief they cleaned the chair and ??brushed?? out bush cow tail on day chief was supposed to come out
Nov 25 Njimshoa
Harry
's compound. Njimshoa is a type of grass. This is put on wall of a house being built, so that if anyone comes to spoil the house he will die.
Nov 25. Edmund
got Tu medicine from Johnson
.
He says he has big big father with Johnson
, but different mother. Mason
was his father and Lynton
was Johnson
's.
Larry
was Man Clint
: Alistair
was father for Arnold
.
Arnold
was brother of Rudolf
, but he doesn't know how.
Edmund
is the man who is going to make it.
It is made for small boys with fever. It has ??Tatschop??
He is the only man whom Johnson
gave it to. Nyap didn't want
Nov 25 Edmund
on Li (sasswood)
They put Len
in prison for giving it. Len
was put in prison for using it.
Edmund
says that when they put Hereward
in prison, they threw it away again. He is the only one in Warwar who has it except Harry
.
He says now people go to Mbamga.
To make the potion one licks the wood and grinds it into very fine powder. The wood comes from the French side.
Edmund
thanked me for telling him it was legal to use it on chickens. Since Len
put in prison (Mayo Daga) he has been afraid to use it. Len
died shortly after returning from prison. I believe that Len
was imprisoned either shortly after Schneider arrived or a bit previous to his arrival.
Nov 25 Women who can see Jujus.
Amanda
- Cahill
's sister
Angela
- Nyap's sister
Amanda
had same mother but different father. The jujus made her eyes turn, which really means that she had epileptic fits but they think that it was caused by jujus, so they showed them to her. She can make ??Jir?? medicine. She is dead. She did not bear any daughters. If she had they would only have taught the daughter if the jujus had made her eyes turn
Angela
- Now married on the French side. Her husband died recently but she stayed there. They taught her the medicine after Amanda
died, as only then did the medicine turn her eyes. She was married at Tscharl at the time., She later left her ??shualong?? and went and married at French side.
Nov 25 Kinship of Edmund
to Johnson
who gave him Tu medicine.
Len
was delivered here. Leonard
was his father. Len
's mother came from Tscharl. Clint
was father of Leonard
.
Nov 25 Tu Medicine
The day Johnson
showed people the Tu medicine, Nyap was away. He showed it to Rowley
, Elton
, Edmund
etc. Later he took it from all but Edmund
. Nyap said that he didn't especially want it when Johnson
offered to give it to him.
Nov 25 Neal
and Gertrude
He gave her firewood once.
He has given her salt for 2d, oil for 1sh and meat for 1 sh.
He has worked farm for her once. He has only been courting her for this year.
Roland
says he has no Ya.
Nov 25 Food
For one day one large calabash of corn is ground. That is one calabash of corn flour. The calabash is about 2 times the size of the measuring cup used in Ndiel.
Theresa
is grinding a mixture of corn and guinea corn to make corn beer.
Nov 25 Labor for Frederick
Frederick
says
He hasn't sent cry yet. Mbem will go from Frederick
's family and one will go from Adrian
's family will go.
Cahill
says that they sent Karel
. They divide the work according to the four Mans. If Cahill
s man sends one, next time they send one from Man Max
, next Lawrence
and next the other Man. There is no special order. Cahill
says that one man is to go from Tiket, 2 from Ndiel, one from Tigul, one from Tscharl.
The next time Tiket will send two then after that Tscharl will send two, then Tigul will send two.
They will pay them one shilling a day. Evidentally the first five will work a few days then they will be replaced by others. All of the other hamlets have sent them except Ndiel.
Nov 25th At housebuilding
Clifford
says yesterday.
Went to build house for Aylmer
's mother in law.
Clifford
, Aylmer
, Charles
, Langley
, Brent
, Derek
(Pearson
's compound) Pearson
, Joshua
(Pearson
's compound), Marcus
, Chapman
, Ellis
, Lester
, Lorcan
. No women went.
Joshua
is trying another daughter of Aylmer
's wifes mother. The Tiket people all went to help Joshua
.
Langley
is Aylmer
's brother.
They finished house and corn beer. They gave 12 pots of corn beer.
Nov 25 Shoa.
About 7.00 we heard shoas dancing at Archibald
's The shoas were Tschimbir, Ka, Mvir.
They danced for about 20 minutes. Archibald
started with Tschimbir. Then Roland
, Gideon
, Brent
, Marek
, Clint
, Thor
, Lonnie
. Archibald
didn't dance. Clint
danced for just a short time. They danced around Archibald
s compound, blowing the jujus and shaking rattles and singing Oh Oh Oh.
They do this so that people will know that next market they must make corn beer.
Strangers can blow the jujus if they wish. Actually most compounds seem to be preparing corn beer for Jujus already, that is before warning of his arrival.
Nov 25 Teknonymy.
The mother of the husband may use the term "mother of ---" when talking to her husbands wife. The husbands father may not, he calls her Ta. The "sisters" of the mother may also use the teknoymic device.
Nov 25th. Lying
Lying is bad. John
says that saying that one paid more for something than one really did, even in making market is bad. The person buying would be vexed if he found out the lie, firstly and more importantly because he paid more for the article, secondly because the man lied to him. In other cases of lying, even if no material disadvantage occurred one would be angry. However, one would not be likely to confront him with his lies.
Nov 25th Carving.
Nyap of Tiket is making me a ??Talsilop??/??Talulop?? which is a female figurine, he promises to make a male one too.
His tools are a knife, a chisel like instrument and a hammer. The knife he uses with a straight blade to cut, and when he wishes to scoop out a hollow, he bends the blade
. The chisel he uses to make small holes and chipping out irregularities.
Nov 24th Dreams.
Beverley
- She dreamt last night that (John
's child) Amos
died. She wondered why he died as he was so well (LN.)
Nov 24th Martin
's house.
Today they started mixing mud. Martin
, Nicholas
and Garth
were working on it. They were mixing mud. Nicholas
and Martin
carried the first few pots of water as their wives were busy cooking chop. Later they will help them with water.
The earth is obtained from the slope just East of the compound.
He isn't going to make corn beer to have people come help him, as he hasn't enough chop. As they add water to the mud, they pound in with their feet dried grass.
Nov 24 Tschakal Medicine.
It is a medicine made to stop pains in the chest. The patient eats a few ashes. Grass is waved over the patients head and his forehead as well as his hearts {sic} are touched.
This medicine was being made by Mike
s wife for his daughter and Thor
's wife. The daughter now stays in compound. She is married to the man who sleeps in the compound who comes from Mang.
The daughter of Nathan
s wife is Langley
's real sister.
Alec
is not here, he went to Mang to see his mother.
Nov 24 Wounds from poison arrow.
John
says
If man was shot witha poison arrow he was brought back to his town. Put in his house under a large basket and made to stay immobile. Very hot fire was lit next to him making him perspire. Only his brothers, mother and mother in law could see him. Ashes were poured on his head and also he was made to sit on ashes.
If he moved about he would die. They knew that the poison was out when he sneezed.
Nov 24th cannibalism
The last part of man to eat was the sole of the foot and the palm of the hand. They used to eat bits on the battlefield raw, but most of it was taken to town. The raw part was eaten with pepper.
The corpse was cooked outside and women were not allowed to eat it. Only the big people could eat it. One had to eat hands begining by the back, otherwise if you started in on the palm, if you bit the tendon, the fingers would snatch your eyes out.
Nov 26th Jujus dancing last night.
The jujus danced for two reasons. One to let people know that the big medicine was to be made next market. Also that from now on they cannot sell food to strangers who will take it away. They can sell it to strangers only if eat it in the village. It can not be taken out of the village.
The above is Clint
's explanation.
Nov 26th Work
Clint
spent about 4 hours today cleaning a place from which he could scare away birds. This work begins about now as the guinea corn is begining to come out.
Nov 26th
John
has heard that Johnson
's fathers father was from Man Neil
.He stole his wife (Rudolf
's mother) from Man Bussami. Latest report is that Rudolf
did conceive Johnson
.
The fathers father of Johnson
that is the man who conceived Rudolf
and who stole the woman had her for only a few nights. She was the wife of a man from Man Bussami who had gotten her by exchange. Man Bussami retrieved her.
Adultery Nov 27th
With non-exchange woman John
says that they give one fowl (called Tsor Tsini) for Sin Medicine if the adulterer is from the same town as the husband and three one for medicine and two for the husband to keep if the adulterer is from a different town.
In the case of exchange marriage, the adulterer gives one fowl for sin medicine, 5 goats and a dog. The dog is divided up among the big people. One front leg to Tscharl, one to Tigul, a back leg to Tiket and one to Ndiel. The big people alone partake. They dance at the husband's compound.
Nor chuo = man with Chuo medicine. That is medicine that one makes when new father or mother taken to market first time.
Nov 27th Leopards
John
says that in Mang there is a man who has the medicine required to cut up a leopard. In order to get the medicine one must have killed a man. This man did during a raid by the Banyo Fulani.
In a previous raid they had taken his mother. When the Fulani came again he ran into the tall grass rather ostentatiously. A Fulani rider followed him. He ran very fast and the Fulani chased him. After a while he came to a place where he had cached a spear or two. He then climbed a tree and when the Fulani man got off his horse he shot him with the spear. He then cut off an arm and xxx later he ate the arm. In the chase the Fulani once started to wheel away the horse and abandon the man, but the Mambila taunted him until he continued.
Nov 28th shoas
The festivities began about 7:00pm when the sun went down and it became dark. Archibald
blew KA and Matt
shouted "Chuo Chuo". Only a big man from Mang were in the compound at the time except for Archibald
, Matt
and I. Women were in the houses.
About 10 minutes later the drums were heard beating at Tiket and many people singing. As yet nothing new has occurred at Ndiel.
A 45 minutes later: still nothing at Ndiel. Plenty of dancing and singing at Tiket.
I waited up until midnight and absolutely nothing happended. No dancing drumming etc. A new piece of Lobal was put under the stone leading into the town of Ndiel. Yesterday the entrance in the middle of the town was decorated.
Nov 29th Lobal medicine
The medicine placed under a stone on the path leading into Ndiel so that the strangers who come will not fight. The medicine also stops birds from eating guinea corn, and also if people eat they will not have to eat very much to be filled up.
Helen
told me the above. She does not know who put it there.
Nov 29th XXJim Shoa
This medicine seen in the following compounds: Clifford
, Archibald
, Frederick
, Kim
, Rodney
, Gregory
, Adrian
.
Not seen in Finlay
, Brett
, Ezra
s or Nathan
s, Ron
, Charles
, Garth
, Leopold
, V. Zielinski
.
It is made to keep witches out. Anti-witchcraft medicine is always made when a lot of strangers are expected. This leads me to believe that the tale that only kinsmen can witch one is false. Actually I think that the beliefs that any kinsman, either cognatic or affinal can witch one if he is in the same town. And any stranger living in the same compound or a neighbouring one can also witch one. Nathan
put the Jim Shoa for Kim
s house. If Nathan hadn't put it then Kim
himself would have put it. It's strange that Nathan
did not put any for himself.
Clifford
made it for himself. Lance
made it for Lance
.
Nov 29th 10 am We went into compounds not so far, that is Nyaps, Nathan
s, Archibald
s, Frederick
s, and Clifford
. In 3 they immediately offered us corn beer. In Clifford
s no one was there to offer. At Nathan
s they were all busy cutting each others hair.
All people are beautifying themsleves today. Many new loin clothes in evidence. Much working and cutting of hair.
Later they gave John
a cup at Nathan
s. They seem to give one cup to all people who come.
Nov 29th prestations to Affinal kin.
Nyap just returned from Tigul with Kim
, Langley
, Neal
. He had brought 4 sh and 6d worth of firewood there. About2/3 of it he gave to his wife's mother in Tigul. The rest he kept for himself.
A months supply of firewood if it needs to be purchased by a Mambila costs 5 sh.
Nov 29th Kim
said that they didn't dance last night because they were too tired from carrying firewood.
They took firewood to Tigul
Nicholas
's wifes mother
Nyap's wifes mother
Wallace
ya's mother (man who likes for thief)
This was the only decorated one.
They took in Ndiel
They took to
Lonnie
's ya's mother (Koltobi daughter Tatschor)
Neal
's ya's family. Gertrude
Isaac
's ya's family. Girl who lives in Ezra
's compound.
People who carried wood: Neal
, Langley
, Lonnie
, Isaac
, Wallis
, Nicholas
, Sean
, Alkali, Roland
, Eldon
(Dyson
's son).
Nov 29 Kim
's loincloth
Nyap's wife died {sic} his loin cloth. He didn't pay her anything. The red wood is his the oil was the old woman who lives in his compound.
Tatschop
The juju is called Tatschop not Tatschor as originally written.
Nov 29 shoas
About 11.30 Delaney
ambles to Archibald
s medicine house and takes out Ka Chimbir and others are taken out. Tigul jujus are heard coming as they open the house. The other is Mboram and Mvir.
Langley
, Neal
, Thor
blow them. Archibald
is not near when they open the house, but he stays in his cooking house. Cuthbert
is also there. Gregory
, Rodney
, Frederick
and Adrian
.
Delaney
waves Non leaves to drive away the dead people from the jujus.
They went to dance placed walked round the central tree three times then went inside.
Rodney
, Gregory
, Thor
. Cuthbert
Gideon
Delaney
Langley
blew shoas.
Archibald
came shortly afterwards. Delaney
lit a fire in the centre of the behind the fenced area. The strangers from Mang (one is John
father, the other a big man) came in shortly after the others.
We then sat down to wait. We wait until Adrian
Frederick
and other big men came. Occaisonally people blow a Shoa but nothing connected. Gregory
and Rodney
say that they should do the medicine right away and not waste time.
Frederick
arrives. Rodney
follows. Brian
and Jed
are in and out of the area. All people except for John
leave their blankets etc on the outside. A few of the men have European loin cloths, but most have Mambila ones.
Other male children too came in and out.
Abraham
brings in a pot of corn beer. Rodney
. Arnold
from Tigul has been here all of the time. Jake
from Tigul too has been here from the first.
The big men retain their cups.
Jake
and Bryan
go out to get a drink of corn beer.
John
father left for Mang about 12:00a.m. He just came to see John
.
Archibald
is arguing with Adrian
as he has not appeared and does not allow Rodney
or Gregory
to make the medicine while he is still alive. He says if he doesn't want others to make his medicine.
Finally all but Archibald
, Frederick
and Rodney
have gone to drink. They are tired of waiting for Adrian
.
Bryan
bought the juju from Tigul. It was a Tschimbir. He was the only one to bring juju from Tigul.
Only a man drum is in the enclosure.
Jerry
brings another pot of corn beer. This is about 40 minutes after the first bought. This is Gregory
's.
Jed
brings small small pot. This Cadogan
. Taylor
brings a pot this Adrian
's.
Frederick
sends Taylor
to bring his corn beer. Taylor
comes with the pot. Archibald
and Frederick
talking to each other, say that Adrian
is bad not to let his brother make the medicine.
Delaney
brings his own pot.
Abraham
and other children bring woman drum.
Archibald
says that Clint
will make Nan medicine. He makes the statement for no apparent reason.
Joel
arrives with Rodney
and Cadogan
who have just returned
(Both men and woman drums are simply hollowed out logs, with a skin top and solid bottom)
Adrian
came in about 1 1/2 hour after the others. He says nothing to anyone. He carries a bunch of grass.
One pot of corn beer comes from Harold
and from Jake
.
Any man can send a pot if he so wishes.
They bring 4 cocks. They place them with leg tied until one crows. Then 2 are out in basket and taken away. Then a group came from Andreas
's compound with his jujus.
Laurie
from Tigul has come.
Archibald
, Adrian
, Delaney
assemble in a corner. They then call Thor
. Before Thor
comes the jujus dashed to a lot of people and they began to dance around the center of the ring. ??Even?? young boys to those of Gregory
and Rodney
's age dance. Bryce
from Tigul dances too. Thor
comes with a pot of corn beer. Harold
comes with a Yung bell. They put a few drops of all corn beer into pot Thor
bought. It was really full. Delaney
takes a cup of corn beer from pot holding a bit of all the contributions. He follows Archibald
who leads and is followed by Adrian
, Rodney
, Thor
, Gregory
, Bateson
to the place where the rock is that they made medicine over at Mba Shoa. Archibald
poured a bit on it. Then all chuck a bit and poured it out in unison over the rock. While Archibald
was pouring it on he said something.
Archibald
puts 4 blobs of mud on 4 leaves.
Harold
said that he is vexed because they took big drum to mission. He said that as it came behind fence it should not be used for European purposes.
Archibald
gives all people some mud on the tongue. Then he puts it on their chests. No special order observed.
Archibald
is also vexed and Adrian
as well as Frederick
over the drum occurrence.
In order to speed up proceedings Adrian
, Thor
and Archibald
all give it. They only give it to kinsmen or people living in Ndiel or Tigul.
More young men come from Tigul. XXXXX and Gregory
then give it.
As they give they say sick will not trouble you and that you need only eat small so that you will be full.
They dont ask permission of big people before bringing drum to mission. All of the big people are angry.
Archibald
says to bring cock which occurred. But the man whose it is is not here so they say to bring the one who did not come.
They bring both cocks.
Archibald
holds Guli grass. Delaney
gives him beer and he spits it on the grass.
Delaney
, Mackenzie
, Adrian
, Harold
, Gregory
, Rodney
, Bryan
, Dave
, Cedric
, Abraham
, Lennox
all drink and get the first Guli grass. They all have either Tschuck or bell medicine.
Adrian
waves grass and tells cock to crow saying that good girls will come, good animals, plenty of men pickins will come, chickens will be well. This goes on for about 10 minutes. He finally says if witch is witching chicken he must die. About 1/2 minute later chicken crows. Then all shout and blows shoas very excited. Repeated second time takes shorter time. The whole thing repeated third time. This time takes a long time. They have Clifford
rattle baskets with cock in them on the outside to stimulate them. It didn't work. The time passes the formula is repeated over and over. Finally a man pulls the string to which one is tied and this annoys him and he crows. Tremendous excitement. They then distribute the grass. Archibald
gives some for Bel (Fence medicine) Adrian
gives some for Tschuck.
Then they begin to dance with shoas. Charles
, Herbert
Garth
and Brett
Nathan
not here. These are the only heads of compounds not here that are not Christian in Ndiel.
Many people dance.
They have beaten the drums with wrapped bundles of grass in the same way they do as when a man dies. They have also bought in one of the small drums that is ??usually?? to stand by itself.
Women sit on the outside, some dance.
Archibald
says if man send birds to eat guinea corn he will die, Gregory
rings bell.
Archibald
: if some does cry witching he will die. Bell rings .
Archibald
: if witch wants to make woman steal or kill children he will die. Bell rings .
Adrian
says: if strangers come to steal Warwar people they will die.
Adrian
says: if Warwar poison they will die.
Adrian
says: all witches must die.
Adrian
says: if man is sterile and wants to kill other children he will die.
Adrian
says: if anyone wants to kill a big person he will die.
Adrian
says: as big men tired they will ask young me n to help them. They must or they will get sick.
Adrian
says: if a big person tries to witch he will die.
Adrian
says if someone wants to witch one having big medicine to get it themsleves they will die.
Adrian
says: if someone witching Mark
he must die.
Adrian
says: Some Vokude people took part of earth, that is piece of ground. They took it to their own town. If they continue to make trouble, they must die.
Adrian
says: If witch witches dogs, chicken, goats, guinea corn, he will die.
Adrian
says if witch makes water over flour he will die.
Allan
says if anyone steals anything he must die.
Adrian
repeats for palm wine.
Frederick
has bell rung because he is always sick and if someone witches him he must die.
At the end of each statement Gregory
touched bell to ground and rang it. The jujus blowed and drums beaten.
The Nam medicine will not have to be made as the cock crowed. This Nam medicine is to drive away the dead.
All medicine now finished. They begin to dance.
Herbert
was here but I just didn't see him until the end. It ended about 4:30. Some very young boys who had not yet been introduced to Juju stood outside of the fence with the women. They would be from the age of four down.
Nov 29 Tiket shoa
We came up late. Evidently they were later even than Ndiel as they had palaver over who would do fence medicine.
Peter
had the bell. Cahill
, Lee
, Gabriel
, ??Elvyn
??/??Elwyn
??. ??Elvyn
??/??Elwyn
?? is young but has the medicine. There all in the centre.
They swore the bell about witches about stealing etc. Also they stressed if man wanted to witch Churches as they didn't make medicine, they must die.
Charles
, Buchanan
, Martin
(Garth
's compound) Simon
.
At end two Nyena nyas arrived and took 2 pots of corn beer. Lawrence
sweared {sic} at but they kept the beer.
Philip
and Isaiah
?? pour a full cup of corn beer into one Tschimbir, then they pass the same beer into the other three Tschimbirs. Then a spot of it onto the 6?? mvirs.
Some of the Tigul people come up after Ndiel finished.
The medicines part was finished by Nyap leading a group in old songs and dances. The difference was mainly that the tempo was much slower. The songs had no words.
The Tiket medicine finished about 5:30.
After they had finished the women outside began to dance outside, as well as the men inside. Some mounted the fairly steep incline leading up to the fence. Then three grabbed a hold of the fence and intermittently some other would try and dislodge them. Sometimes 3 or four would pull at one holding onto the fence and thus remove her. The "sister" that Johnson
had exchanged was the ??sturdiest?? contender. When I first saw her she was dressed with two cloths and a machete in a case hung on her shoulder in the same way that a man wears them. In about fifteen all of her clothes had been taken off,
and her machete taken away and worn by another woman. She however fought her way back to her handhold on the fence. Though this was all in fun they were not gentle. One woman was pulled about 10 ft along the rough ground naked except for her waist strings. I was told that they were especially rough on her as she had a strong head. Johnson
s widow took part in the above.
The spot where the medicine is made for Mba Shoa (the rock under which they look) was covered with corn beer at the time we arrived.
The women danced to the fence and back in long files. 9 rows of women were thus aligned.
Brent
was there carrying bush cow tail
Nov 28 Shoa party.
In the evening I walked around Ndiel. People were wandering round in groups going from house to house dancing. In almost every compound that I went to some people were dancing and drinking. I visited Nathan
s, Archibald
s, Frederick
s, Clint
s, Clifford
s, Jake
s, Finlay
s. Only in Clifford
s and Finlay
s was there no corn beer or dancing. In both all of the people were gone. Most of the houses that I visited had about 25 people in them ("so round, so firm, so fully packed")
John
went to Tiket. Many more strangers came there than to Ndiel. Most of the strangers were related to some Warwar people. Lots of affinal kin come. They must be well supplied with corn beer and food.
Nov 29th Fence Medicine.
Strangers who have come may go behind the fence, but they dont have to. They may not have any of the Bel Guli grass nor the Tschuk Guli grass.
Nov 30th Tiket dancing.
Songs sung
"The Europeans say to stop fighting otherwise we would kill all people."
"If I meet any Vokude man I am going to flog him."
"Bevis
was only chief 2 months and already they put him in jail."
"As soon as Bevis
was made chief, he gave the farms to Kara chief. Soon Warwar will be under Kara."
"How can they make Bevis
chief when he has no English nor no Fulani. He has no cows."
"When Bevis
eats food, he must put one-half away for S. Zielinski
."
The Tscharl people were a bit annoyed. They say that "Bevis
was now a big man."
They sang all the songs when Bevis
was present.
Nov 30th Yip and Gir
Yip was afraid to go behind the fence as the other boys would flog him. They were angry because he didn't help them fix the fence. They made him sweep out the dance place, but that was not enough and he couldn't go behind the fence. Yip didn't admit this to be reason, but I was told so by Jed
and Elias
.
John
says that in the past if Tscharl boys didn't help them with the fence fixing as Tiket, they would flog them if they tried to go behind the fence.
They also used to do much wrestling at this time, but the big people have made the law that they can't now.
Nov 30th Fence -taboo
Only Nyena nyas can use a knife or machete to clean behind the fence. However non-nyena nyas may pull leaves down on small branches as long as they do so with their hands.
Nov 30th Women who can see shoas.
Irene
- Adrian
s kin- she is dead. She saw jujus. Then had fit. She had to be caught and tied. They then showed her jujus so that she would get well (Told me by Ian
). This is the only woman Ian
knows of that lived in Ndiel, that could see shoas. She could not make the medicine.
Nov 30th Woman and shoas.
Women know a great deal about Mvir, Tschimbir and Ka. They can tell you which is which from the sound, and some of them know of what they are made.
The fact of seeing a juju is what makes a woman sick, not knowing of them.
Nov 30th shoas.
Only at rare intervals did people go into the fenced area to blow the shoas and beat the drums. I was in there about a dozen times and never were more than 12 people there. Many of the times it was empty. Often only a handful of children were inside. This for Ndiel.
At Tiket. Spent about 2 hours there. Many people were behind the fence and about 50 women were dancing outside. The drum was in action most of the day (This I heard from Ndiel). At one time a man climbed high into a tree and urinated on the women outside. This is evidently customary. The women ran back and some were wetted, I believe.
Most of the day was spent by all people wandering around from house to house drinking corn beer. Many Ndiel people went to Tigul, and Tiket people to Tscharl. Of course some Ndiel people went to Tscharl or Tiket and vice versa. But mostly the dichotomy was retained.
Archibald
went to Tscharl to visit his sister. Last night there was much more dancing at Tiket and Tscharl than here. John
came back to Ndiel about 1:00 o'clocl. Almost everybody was asleep, so he went back to Tiket, then Tscharl and danced all of the night.
No medicine has yet been made at either Tscharl or Tigul. I think that none is made there at all during this time. Herbert
made corn beer for this & Shoa.
Nov 30th Craig
and Herbert
.
It is immediately obvious that Craig
is the leading personality of the household. The people are aware of this. They usually refer to the compound as kililieg Craig
or Fara Craig
, rather than using Herbert
's name.
Nov 30th Cowrie shells
John
says that they used to use them for money. A man on the French side was here and gave me the word for money presently used on the French side. It is the same word that they used here and also used there for money. The word used is KALONG.
Nov 30 Joking song re Bevis
John
said that the songs were sung that night both in Tiket and Tscharl. The insulting songs were led by Tiket people and the defence songs by Tscharl people, but they all joined in singing, that is Tscharl people would sing the Tiket songs in the choir and vice versa.
The same thing used to happen after Samuel
s downfall. Then Tscharl sang the ??reprimanding?? songs and Tiket people the defense songs.
Nov 30th Children playing
The male children of Ndiel were playing in the dance field, most of the day. Almost all of the male children from Louis
to Abraham
were there (Louis
has recently returned) but Yip was ignored. They were still angry with him for not helping to fix the fence.
One game that they played. One boy would hold a stick in one hand and a stone in another. He would sing that his hands were on fire and who wanted to put it out. Another would slap his hand knocking out the stick. Then the boy holding the articles would drop them and the two would wrestle.
Nov 30th John
on political system
Two nights ago , John
, Mervin
and an Nsungli from Gembu learning bricklaying and myself were talking about the political situation.
John
said that the Mambilas should agree to be all under one or at most two chiefs. (This is my idea, that I had previously discussed with him). However he said that if a chief begins to agree with another one too frequently the agreeing chief would fear that the others would think of him as a small boy. Therefore in many meetings they often disagree for the sake of disagreeing.
He also said that he didn't think that all or even a sizable number of now independent towns would agree to follow one of the towns chief.
It seems to me that it might be possible to make a chief that was independent of any specific town tie.
Dec 1st shoas
Today the Shoa were put back in their store. They danced much late afternoon. Women on outside, women on the inside. Only 4 Tscharl people came, about 19 or 20 yrs. About 6:00 Adrian
led the procession carrying the shoas from the dance place. The Tscharl shoas immediately went home. The others were all brought to Archibald
s compound. There theysang a bit, then Archibald
put them in the st ore. Adrian
collected them from the people.
Then Thor
brought a pot of corn beer from Archibald
's house. Archibald
made a speech thanking the people for dancing with the shoas and bringing them home. All drank. Then the shoas that belonged to Dyson
left and went home accompanied by Dyson
, Jervis
?? and others from there.
Adrian
, Archibald
, Dyson
, Jarvis
were the only big men behind the fence.
Brett
was there today.
Dec 1st
On the town level things are divided according to big men. The order of division is usually Frederick
, Adrian
, Archibald
, Dyson
etc. or sometimes just divided Adrian
and Frederick
and Archibald
and they further subdivide.
Dec 2nd Mba Binini
The festivities that have just held sway that is on the 29th- 30th and 1st of December are called Mba Binini. This name comes from the kind of dance that they do. That is the dance behind the fence.
Dec 2nd Nyin Shoa
??Males?? This medicine kills witches. Some people instead of making Nyin Shoa make Ndurki Shoa, which is the medicine made by scraping a small stick. Both of these are made from the same reason, that is to kill witches.
Dec 2nd. Talking whistles.
Today for the first time since the last dry season I heard these whistles. They can only be used after Mba Binini. John
talked to Ian Daniels
from my house, Ian
being in Tiket. They heard each other very well.
Evidently they are most frequently used to abuse people. It is evidently all right to abuse someone in his presence, if you use this instrument. It is also frequently used to abuse girls. They say if girls find then they break them as they are so often used to abuse them. Girls do not as a rule use them themselves.
One would not use them to abuse a big man. John
says that he might use it against Clifford
Aylmer
or Rudolf
, but not against Frederick
, Archibald
etc; nor against Nyap of Tiker.
It is often used to insult uncircumcised children, the favourite insult being that they small. Evidently they are not insulted in other periods or by other means.
Dec 2nd groundnuts.
Women were today still bringing in groundnuts. Most have been bought in but still some keep trickling in.
Dec 2nd Farming practices.
John
says that usually Warwar people only allow their fields to lie fallow one year. But this he says is not the case in Mbamga, Kabri, Ngubin etc. There he says they leave them for 2 years. The tin trees in this case get to be about as thick as a fist.
Dec 2nd Girls and Boys.
Girls are not nearly as well orgainised as boys. When they play together, the boys usually all support one another, but this is not the case with girls. They as a rule do not help each other if attacked by boys. Watched today a group playing a form of tag. The aim is to tap other people on the top of the head. The bigger girls often held the smaller ones so that boys could tap them. This was not the case with boys, nor did they hold any of the small boys.
Dec 2nd War times
In the past if one wanted to travel it was safe to stay in a kinsman's town, but if going by a strange town, one would get off the road and pass by the bush. I believe that previously there were more marriages between villages than nowadays, as there was more value to such marriages. The more villages in which one had kin, the safer one was, as the member of such villages would give one sanctuary. It was not only ones kinsmen, but the entire village that would help one.
Dec 3rd Nam medicine.
Archibald
, his wife and one of his daughters. Suzette
and Thor
and Harold
went about a dozen feet into the bush to the left of Rolf
's compound. There Harold
gathered dry grass, and Archibald
lit it with his pipe. On fire they put pot with some food in it. Then Harold
waved grass over Archibald
's, his wife, Thor
and the girl Suzette
. Then he fed them each salt. Later they all ate the food from the pot.
Harold
is the one to make the medicine. Its purpose is to stop the dead from interfering with Suzette
's fertility. The Nam medicine drives them away. They think that the dead are troubling her and that Nam will drive away the dead.
Patience
, Thor
's wife, Archibald
, Archibald
's wives Thor
and Harold
were there.
Dec 3rd language
Mervin
says that a man speaking Nsungli can not understand Mambila at Warwar. Very few words are the same. The only one that can he can think of is ngwi the word for carrot. Mambilas call carrots gwiya which is not very similar.
He says that Nsungli people can learn a bit of Kaka and Warwar. John
says that a Mambila cannot hear Kaka talk at all. He says that Mambilas can hear no other language but Mambila.
Dec 4th Circumcision
Today Robin
circumcised two boys . Ricky
in Bartholomew
s compund knows how to circumcise as well as Robin
.
The were silent, but not particularly frightened looking.
Each one walked by himself to the stone where they sat, just outside Robin
s compound. A man from the compound held them in his arms holding their head by his arm. Robin
took the penis in his hand. Pushed it back and then pulled forward the foreskin. He then cut it off. The whole operation took about 4 minutes. Neither of the boys said a word nor cried. However I heard that yesterday Gary
cried.
They then got up under their own power and went and sat about 5 yards away letting the blood dry. The foreskins were casually thrown in the bush. Nothing said during the operation by operator. There was no attempt to frighten the boys before the operation. They did talk of Gary
crying yesterday.
Robin
says that he will get nothing for this.
Robin
says that he doesn't know when Mambila learned that they do it because their big fathers do it.
He says the reason that they do it so that when one urinates it doesn't spoil the clothes.
He says that man can marry and bear children without being cirumcised. But he says he knows no such case.
The brother who came with the boys was Bertrand
(Hugo
s compound) and Rex
(Clive
's compound) Steven
(Lawrence
s compound) were {sic} circumcised. Rex
is not brother to the other two. The boy who comes with them got nothing.
There were two small boys who watched the operation. One small girl came in and no one paid her any heed, but she was quite small about a year and a half. They would run older girls and women off.
After sitting about a hour letting blood drip, Robin
gave each of the two boys a taste of ashes, saying this will stop the blood from running. Then a banana leaf cup was tied on and they went off. The blood was still running. One of the boys didn't want to pass through compound as people might use his blood to witch him, but the others led him on.
They wore nothing over their buttocks at this time.
That afternoon they went to frighten birds. Not a single boy between 6 and 14 years at Tiket - all were chasing birds.
Dec 4th Definiteness of words.
Maku is dead people, the word used for dead. They used to say if child cried one of the dead fathers would kill him.
Tsir Bvani means bad road it is used by turntalks for hell, but had no spiritual meaning. Wa also used by interpreters but
Chachu dalli: means if you don't do bad things, you will live long long time and not die quick.
War (mxxx Barup)
Wawa, Gembu, Lemme, Gakara, Tep, Mbar, Mverup, Yambap, Ndarup.
All of these help Wawa against Vokude and Mbamga.
Mbamga, Vokude, Mbarrup, Tamnya, Mang, Nige, Kara, Tangana, Dembe, Ngul (near Mang follows near Kabri) all fought against Wawa.
Mang fought against Ngubin and Titon.
Dec 6th Nyap Tiket
Rather playfully he told, Cuthbert
and Ibrahim
's wife to go fish as he was tired of eating egusi. They said that they were tired. He got a cup of water and threw it on them. Cuthbert
's wife chased him around the compound. Much laughter. Later she caught him and held him while Ibrahim
's wife poured water on him. Again much laughter.
Dec 6th Nyap Tiket
A long time ago some people from Yambap stole one of Nyap's "sisters". The big man of the family told Nyap on his deathbed to get her back. Nyap went to the people in Yambap and they were afraid that Nyap would take them to court so they gave him a small girl. The girl grew up with Nyap. Nyap offered her to John
as a wife, but he wouldn't take her. So just recently she married Virgil
in Lawrence
's compound. (This marriage took place after my census).
This sort of giving of persons does not prohibit marriage into the giving group.
Dec 6th Circumcision
Yesterday Abraham
was cut. He did not join either in the work of building Adrian
's house, nor did he drink the corn beer. He might have if he had wished.
He went up alone.
In the afternoon he went to fields to chase away birds.
Dec 6th Adrian
s housebuilding.
Almost all people of Ndiel were there. no strangers. They worked well as they built one house and a half.
At night Adrian
gave 8 pots of corn beer, two to the women. Ludovick
gave 2 pots.
Aylmer
got big cup for working best. He was given it by Charles
.
Dec 7th Tschuk Medicine (small one)
Harold
was teaching Bruce
how to make it. This medicine made to make people bear male children. Made for women and men too.
Adrian
, Rodney
, Gregory
, Edwin
, Harold
and Ezra
shared the chicken as they have the medicine also.
Clifford
s and Frederick
s is a bit different, so they couldn't eat it, even though the purpose of the medicine is the same.
Brett
produced a chicken for the medicine to be made but paid nothing else. Actually the actions were the same as if he had made the medicine for Brett
.
Dec 7th Housebuilding
Houses being built - Roland
, Christy
, Ezra
, V. Zielinski
, Charles
, Garth
.
New compounds
Rodney
, Adrian
, Edwin
Dec 7th Circumcision
All of the circumcised boys seem to end up all of the time chasing birds. They are rarely to be seen in the compounds, nor in the town. I am told that it is bad for them to be around the women too much, though it is not prohibited that they should even be with women.
Dec 7th Makal (Mbamga) or ??Floni/Honi?? (Wawa) or Mandalim (Wawa)
Makals were people who could extend themselves to great heights, about 25 ft. They appeared at dusk to frighten recalcitrant people. They were used mainly against women. Ian
says if women wandered about at night, the Makal would meet them on road and frighten them.
Ian
says that Tu is the medicine used to become Makal. Now they can't do it anymore, if anybody does, they will die at once. He has never seen them as they were before his time.
Sar
A man who could make fire come from his mouth. It used for ??above?? purpose. Ian
saw one when he was in his house at night. More than likely a dream. A long time ago used to frighten women.
Frederick
agrees with Makal and Sar, his report is same as Ian
s.
Dec 7th Hills.
Frederick
says that he doesn't have any. No one in his Man has any. He says only Archibald
and Cadogan
have them. Cadogan
has rights only because Adrian
allowed him the rights.
He says that his big big father had one far away but people got hurt burning it, so they didn't use it anymore.
Dec 7th Farms
Frederick
says that he and his wife actually farm 10 farms.
His father used them before him.
He allows the farms to lie fallow one year.
Aylmer
and Mbon work part of the same 10. Actually they do almost all of the work.
He can't take farms from his family: he says his father gave the Man number the farms. He goes on to say that his father underestimated the farms.
Dec 8th Hills
The hills behind the mission belongs to Nyap. The other side belong to ??Cyril
??. Archibald
owns the South side.
Only Nyap has them in Tiket. He doesn't know why he is the only one to own it. Cahill
doesn't know why either.
Nyap tells them when to burn it. He doesn't have the other big men to agree.
He gets more meat than the others.
The rats they don't give him.
Dec 8th Farms
Nyap worked 5 farms this year. He and his wife and Gelmbon work 10 all together, and work them alternate years.
His father worked them before him.
Johnson
showed him him some places where no one was working and he began to work them.
Actually Nyap's father worked fewer than Nyap.
He doesn't know of a time when a man asked for more farms and was refused. He doesn't know of any man who hasn't enough farms.
There are plenty of non-used farmable lands.
They gave church teachers farms.
Dec 8th Inheritance
Johnson
, Nyap, Ibrahim
, Marcus
, Zielinski
, Lawrence
, Hugo
and all of the big people of the Man got some of property when his father died.
Johnson
got biggest part.
Nyap got one goat but small one.
Some people get chicken, spears, shovels etc.
Johnson
got goat but a big one.
Cahill
got one big goat when his father died.
Dec 8th
Nyap says that some Mu Pep was a German who came here. A lot of Germans came here.
Entwistle
was here and told them to bring a lot of corn and they brought it to Banyo and Ngaoundere. They were given nothing for this.
Germans flogged Ibrahim
, knocked him down etc.
Dec 8th Goats
Nyap says he has none as does Ibrahim
.
John
says that he is quite sure that Nyap has some.
Dec 8th Members of the Church
Ndiel-
Ian Davies
V. Zielinski
Graeme
Saul Arundale
Annette Fraser
(J
Wife)
Carolyn Speight
(V. Zielinski
's wife)
Elaine Stott
(I
's mother)
Nicola
jr (Ian
s mothers sister now at Tscharl) (Lommis compound)
Yvonne Crystal
(Ian
s sister now lives Tscharl)
Joseph Keen
(sleeps at Misna)
Edwin Heaton
(sleeps at Misna)
Sally Cassidy
(Joseph
s wife)
John
Knox
Tiket
Ian David
Samuel Zielinski
Ted Carruthers
Clare Saville
(Ellis
's wife)
Conrad Watkins
Vivian Zielstra
(??four??)
Joanne Hartland Webb
(??four??)
Will Abaza
(??four??)
Samuel Peacock
(??four??)
Joanne Lambert
(wife of Nick
)
David Robinson
(??four??)
Mervin
Tu (??four??) now at Gembu xxxxxxxx
Heather Moffat
(Bennett
s wife)
Algernon Avis
(Foster
s compound)
Tscharl
Gerald Marsh
Nickie Elliott
(Gerald
s wife)
Tigul
none
Hiram
was Christian, but left it since baptism he has not attended church and has had woman palaver.
Dec 8th Circumcism
Abraham
and Duke
re circumcision
They went on their own.
Jim
went with Abraham
. Jim
held him. Duke
went alone. Wui helped him. Everard
went with him.
They gave nothing to Jarvis
.
Fathers know they were going but they didn't tell their mothers, but they probably knew.
They neither gave them anything nor did they cook a chicken for them.
They can't eat European salt, groundnuts, meat that has fat, these are the only things that they can't eat.
They haven't started bathing in cold water yet.
Charles Jeremy
(??four??)
Will Abaza
(??four??)
Samuel Peacock
(??four??)
Joanne Lambert
(wife of Nick
)
David Robinson
(??four??)
Mervin
Tu (??four??) now at Gembu xxxxxxxx
Heather Moffat
(Tus wife)
Algernon Avis
(Foster
s compound)
Tscharl
Gerald Marsh
Nickie Elliott
(Gerald
s wife)
Tigul
none
Hiram
was Christian, but left it since baptism he has not attended church and has had woman palaver.
Dec 8th Circumcism
Abraham
and Duke
re circumcision
They went on their own.
Jim
went with Abraham
. Jim
held him. Duke
went alone. Barney
helped him. Everard
went with him.
They gave nothing to Jarvis
.
Fathers know they were going but they didn't tell their mothers, but they probably knew.
They neither gave them anything nor did they cook a chicken for them.
They can't eat European salt, groundnuts, meat that has fat, these are the only things that they can't eat.
They haven't started bathing in cold water yet.
They sleep in the same place that they always did.
They can't carry water. They can't drink water from cups others have used, unless they cup their hands and let the water run over their fingers.
Alkali - Robin
did it.
Instead of sleeping with women he jumped over the foot of a woman who had her legs stretched out, this is symbolic and satisfactory.
Duke
and Abraham
say they dont know whether they will or not.
The above questions raised a good deal of laughter .
John
didn't do it, as he left almost at once to go to Ndu.
Abraham
and Duke
were wearing cloths around their waists to cover the penis sheaths and their buttocks. Langley
and Neal
made fun of them for this. A few years ago they couldn't do this.
The boys who have just been circumcised must eat from their own calabashes and alone, as they cannot eat European salt.
Dec 8th Work at Gembu
Mbon on:
>From Ndiel and Ralph
(the man in Adrian
s compound who likes to steal)
>From Ndiel - Olaf
(Chapman
s brother)
>From Tschar {sic} - Dick
(Gabriel
s son)
>From Tigul - Nat
(George
s compound)
They did not give them any money
They did not give them chop
They did not give them house to sleep
They didn't even give them tools.
They made mud so that house could be made.
People from Mang 5 - people from Nderrup 5 - Ndarrup 3 -
Some Kara people and others he didn't know. The work was to mud the walls of the Makadas compound.
Dec 9th Neville
Death.
About 5.30 I heard the Kurunum being carried up by Rolf
s. I went up and heard that it was being taken to Tigul as Neville
had just died, as it was late we didn't go up. Nothing special that night.
The kurunum was Cadogan
s. It was carried up to Tigul by Cedric
. The granary was fenced off with mats. The Jujus were made.
Dec 10th
Most of the women sat outside, but some wandered about in the compound as the medicine was finished.
Dyson
and Jarvis
came afterwards and they did their formal wailing before the granary with the rattle. Delaney
joined them.
Rathbone
seems to stay in granary. Maybe its because its the chiefs month. It started 2 days ago.
Dec 10th Neville
Funeral
Went to Tigul about 10:00. Almost all the people from Ndiel and Tigul there. Few from Tscharl and Tiket. Bevis
and Rathbone
were there.
They had already buried Neville
under the medicine house. The medicines had been made. Most of the women from Tigul bring fuelwood. They give it to Neville
s sister. To each one who brings firewood she gives a small stick. This stick is given so that can ??eat argusi?? and firewood given will not end quickly.
Rathbone
comes out and sits with people. He is not required to isolate himself though it is chiefs month.
About 8 women from Ndarup come and as soon as they entered the compound began to cry. As soon as they left the men began to dance. The women all left the compound. Then Vokude men came, they stood in front of the granary wailed.
There are 24 ears of corn, about 16 groundnuts and 14 sprigs of guinea corn on compound ground. These are thrown away. Will not be used.
14 Tagum men came. They are Neville
's brothers. They all carry spears. The women accompanying stay outside. They then file in. They cry awhile in front of granary, then go to group under medicine hut and cry there. No uncircumcised boys here.
Ndarup men come with :Kurunum. They all carried spears. When the big men started to dance his kurunum Frederick
danced him.
A big man from Ndarup began to talk like a juju that is growl. Many formed a circle around him acting as a chorus. He repeated nonsense syllables and occasionally hit the ground with a basket handle. While doing this he and the audience laughed.
Tiket people came. Cahill
has Kurunum. The Tscharl people came with the Tiket people. The Three Kurunums dance together. All of the big people of Tiket have come including Cahill
, Maxwell
, Cecil
, Nyap, Hugo
etc.
After Kurunums then men who growls like Shoa resumes. Nyap did this for Johnson
s funeral.
The above act of Shoa was just for play. Anyone can do it. No medicine.
167 men were here by noon.
Today all people even Tiket people sing complimentary songs to Bevis
as Tangara people here. Ndarup too sings good songs.
The Tangara people are sitting in a cluster by themselves, not dancing.
Dylan
sings that he wants to insult men but he doesn't know who.
Edgar
says if it were not for Fulani and Europeans they would kill all Tangara people.
Henry
sings "Why do Tangara people run away, why dont they come to dance." If they came to dance then they would curse them.
A Tigul man sings that if white man not here Vokude people would fear to come.
Rathbone
sang. In the old days if the native chief sang all bent at the waist. When Rathbone
sang only 4 of the older men did. I observed this twice.
Food brought for people who were not here when it was last served. It is fufu and part of the goat.
4 women including Frederick
s wife sing old songs on womens side of the fence and also insult each other. They accuse each other of killing Neville
.
The 4 women begin to curse each other. One says to the other her front part is dead.
Bartholomew
talks. All are quiet. He says that Neville
had boils inside his body and then voided nothing but blood. He had the same last year and got well. This year it came again and it killed him.
Rathbone
says to bring kurunum. They put kurunum under a shield. They decide to use it as several say that to get sick and die is no good. Adrian
says that they tried all medicines and didn't work. He asks Bartholomew
why.
Bartholomew
says they made many medicines, sometimes Tschangs help, sometimes they dont.
A man from Ndarup stands and says that Ndarup people and Warwar people shouldn't be vexed. This he thinks causes death.
Bartholomew
says that Warwar people vexed because he gave Tschek medicine to Ndarup and they didn't bring Warwar people part of the catch also Ndarup took some of their farms.
Dyson
tells them to hurry up and make medicine with kurunum.
Cecil
says long time ago Warwar people and Ndarup people swear bell not to take each other to court, and now they do. He says dead people may be vexed and maybe killing people.
Cecil
says that the reason sick troubles them is that they summons people with whom in fighting day they used to be allied with. The big people a long time ago rang bell saying that this should not be done. Lots, including Adrian
, agree.
They have had 3 chicks hung on string like they did for Johnson
but for Johnson
only 2, here they are Jui, Tu and the other I dont know.
All kurunums brought and Bartholomew
takes kurunum that Frederick
usually uses, Frederick
s takes it from him. Frederick
, Cahill
and man from Ndarup take them.
Rathbone
says if someone witched Neville
, he will die, kwurum called and calabashes blowed.
Then Rathbone
said if anyone owed. Ellis
??or?? he owed then, he must say, and truly. Kwurum called.
Bartholomew
says if he witched him he will die. Ring.
If someone wishes to witch him, he will die. Ring.
Adrian
says
If Tangara people witched Neville
they will die (Neville
was for a short time in Tangara). Kwurum rung.
The men with kwurum from Ndarup says that if anyone tries to witch him he must die.
Rathbone
says
if either Ndarup or Warwar people witched, the witch must die.
Nyap, Rathbone
and others have kwurum rang to kill those {who} steal
also Adrian
.
Rathbone
says if cows come to chop farms they will die. Kwurum rung.
The Kwurum finished, Dancing begun again.
We left about 5:00 with most of the big people.
All of the big people of Wawa were there except Rolland
.
During the kwurum ringing only Cecil
, Cahill
, Frederick
, Adrian
, Nyap, Lawrence
and 2 men from Ndarup talked
Much of Bartholomew
and
talked.
The discussion concerned mainly the disagreement between Ndarup people and Warwar people and a meeting between Bartholomew
and Phillip
. At the latter they were that is Phillip
and Bartholomew
were to tell the big people of old old things. Phillip
called, them all but Bartholomew
didn't come, so Phillip
didn't talk.
The big people seem to think that Bartholomew
and Phillip
can give them a formula to stop so many people from dying. Bartholomew
refused today as he said that if he forgot something Phillip
if there would be able to remind him.
The discussion between Ndarup and Warwar seems to have been largely over some farms. Evidently they both farmed in an area once and then Ndarup people told them to go away.
The big people all stressed the fact that inhabitants of neither town should take the others to court.
Evidently a few years ago the towns who used to fight as allies agreed not to summons each other & each others members. This has tended to break down, and they think that the dead may be vexed at this and be causing the deaths.
Dec 10th Neville
Funeral
Clint
wasn't there. I asked him why and he said that he was busy building Simon
s house. They had stuck in the poles and put up about 2 ft of mud walls. This however does not seem like a likely excuse.
Dec 10th Rolf
's loss
Two days ago someone stole Rolf
's pocket-book from his shop while he was in Nathan
's compound.
that afternoon he consulted a man in Vokude who said that it was stolen by a woman in play.
Yesterday he went to Kwabua and a man looking in a cup of water told him that it was stolen by woman in play and might be given back. Tomorrow he is to consult Henry
who will rub his hands.
Dec 12th Church
Characteristic of the lack of ??determination?? division between men and women. In the church quite a few women sit on the mens side even though there are seats available on the womens side. They're {sic} are a few men sitting on the womens side but less.
9 women on mens side.
2 men on womens side.
24 women present.
11 men present not including church xxxxx evangelist, assistant evangelist and myself.
About 15 children ranging in age from age to those carried in arms.
Dec 12th Neville
's funeral
Clint
didn't appear as a brother of his had come from Kilatin to consult an Ngam, and he had to take him to Vokude to do so.
Dec 12th Johnson
's funeral
Nyap and the rest of his kin are angry with Harold
's wife as she only went up twice. She has never stayed for two or three days as she should of, being his daughter.
Dec 12th Nyap's (Ndiel) Farms
He is now farming 3 farms. Next year he will use 3.
Two remain that he doesn't use. Theobald
used them, then Nyap used them. Neville
gave farms to Theobald
. Theobald
had family at Tigul.
Only this year he had to buy corn, previously he had too much. The reason is this yearsome spoiled by water,
Nyap divided the farms between Cuthbert
, ??Neal
?? when he got married. Previously they had all worked together as a unit, but when Nyap got married he divided them as Cuthbert
and ??Neal
?? wanted to sell some of their corn.
Dec 13th bird frightening
Nyap is angry that Warren
has been gone so long. He is needed to chase birds from farms, but is still away with Benjamin
at Bamenda.
Dec 13th People baptised Dec 12th
Nyap and wife
Tania
- Graham
s wife
Deirdre
(Njurallas wife. Njuralla not Christian)
Martin
and wife
Kavanagh
's (Tiket wife Kavanagh
not Christian)
Daphne
(Gregory
's daughter. Charles Jeremy
's wife)
- Philip
s wife Ingrid
(Philip
makes fence medicine for Tiket, since Johnson
died. Lives
- on farm)
Marjorie
(Cahill
s daughter married to Hector
of Tscharl who is not Christian. Sleeps in Cahill
s compound.
- Bertram
(Pearson
s compound, unmarried as his wife left him)
- Phyllis
(Edwin Lloyd
s wife sleeps at Mission).
Dec 13th Couples who are Christian
Milton Parker
and wife
John
Knox
and wife
David Nyap and wife
Martin
and wife (Garth
s compound)
Ronan
and wife
Graeme
and wife
V. Zielinski
and wife
S. Zielinski
and wife (Mission)
A. Ellis
and wife (Tiket Deverell
compound)
Charles Jeremy
and wife (Farms)(Meiron
compound)
R Mackay
and wife (Farms Ainsley
s )
Mervin Bennett
and wife (Foster
s compound now Cuthbert
)
Joseph Keen
and wife (mission)
Edwin Lloyd
and wife (mission)
Gerald Marsh
and wife (Tscharl)
Married men whose wifes not Christian
J. Kennedy
Samuel Peacock
(farms) (Leslie
s compound)
David Robinson
(Farms his own compound)
Widows who are Christian
A. Brent
(his wife just died. Learning carpentry at Gembu)
Single men who are Christian
Sheridan
(Pearson
s compound. His wife left him)
Algernon Avis
(Has been married twice, both wifes left him)
Single women Christian
Elaine Stott
(Ian
mother)
Tabitha Erskin
(J
. mothers sister) Tscharl Glen
s compound
Madeleine Guy
(Ian
s "sister") Glen
s compound.
Women whose husbands not Christians
Miriam Felqua - Nick
s wife
Johnston
s wife
Kavanagh
's wife
Peter
s wife (farms)
Stephan
s wife (Cahill
s compound)
44 Christians
15 married couples
21 males
23 females
Dec 13th fence medicine
Only Peter
and Phineas
of Tigul have the whole thing. The rest only have part of it, before take away.
Nyap says that before they used to look under there to see if the crops grow fine. However recently at least since Johnson
's time they no longer use it as a method of prognostication. They now don't do this anymore, they just pour corn beer inside the stone.
Before they used to tell by the state of ants eggs under the stone. They are a bit unclear on this the reason that they dont use it anymore to prognosticate is that the person who had all of the medicine died off without telling anybody.
Before Johnson
- Cyrus
did it. Rudolf
before Cyrus
, Newton
before him. Before Newton
he doesn't know.
Cyrus
father was Percival
.
Newton
was in Nyaps Max
but he doesn't know how.
This is the first time that I have even heard anyone answer to a question that a person was of his Bussum.
To the question of who was Cyrus
, Nyap said he was of my Memin.
Dec 13th Tatschop
Nyap was blacking my Tatschop when we came up. He did this with charcol to which a bit of water added. He put it on the Tatschop by means of his fingers and sometimes by means of a stick.
Dec 13th Peter
(The man with fence medicine)
Peter
according to John
is not going to make fence medicine anymore next year, He may become a Christian. That is the reason that Tschuquona helped him this year.
Dec 13th incest.
John
knows a man who married his full sister. They are from Mang. They eloped to Kabri. Stayed about six months. They then returned and the big people were very angry but could do nothing.
They have borne 4 children and none died. The eldest is about 9.
The two were orphans and the man had custody of her as well as younger siblings.
Dec 14th Bute language
Nyap (Tiket) Rolf
and John
agree that Bute is very close to Mambila. Bute is the language spoken in Banyo.
Nyap and John
both say that they can understand Bute a little bit.
Dec 19th Neville
s kinship with Cadogan
& Nathan
They say that they are brothers. Their big big father came from Bartholomew
's family. His name was Gwyn
. His father was Giles
. Wyatt
was father of Giles
. Gwyn
bore Nathan
.
Dec 15th Corn beer for Cuthbert
's housebuilding.
He made 18 pots.
He had given 9 pots by 3:00 o clock.
He will given 8 to the people and keep one for himself.
He has so far given 3 to women. The women of this and Nathan
's compound ground the corn. he does not pay them anything for this.
People who come:
Nathan
, Archibald
,
Frederick
, Nyap, Simon
, Neal
, Leo
, Roland
, V. Zielinski
. The boy who lives in Clint
s compound, Clint
, Langley
, the man from Mang who sleeps in Nathan
s compound, Cadogan
, Aylmer
, Thor
.
Bi, Havergal
, Nathan
's wife, Rudolf
's older wife, Archibald
's wives
, Thor
's wife, Cadogan
's wife
.
underlined people did no work.
Dec 15th Mountain burning
Last night Bororos burned Archibald
s mountain. He was very very vexed, as this meant that later they could not burn it to hunt.
When I suggested that he take the case to Gembu he laughed. He is probably right, as he would probably get a raw deal there.
Dec 15th Circumcised Boys.
As a rule they go to farms to watch for birds. They go early and stay late. Evidently they are not supposed to stay in the town. This is largely because of the fact, that they should not associate with women too much. The men or other boys bring them food on the farm.
Abraham
, Wanbo and Duke
usually are together these days. They were circumcised together.
John
, Jacob and a boy of Kabri told me that they were given no food when they were circumcised. Jacob was given a shilling by his fathers brothers. Others given nothing.
Dec 15th Chickens.
Elias
had one chicken before be brought two from me. He was given it by a Bororo for whom he worked farm.
Dec 15th Joe Curtis
Used to live where Jake
lives. His father was Aled
of Adrian
's Man. He lives now in Tiket as his fathers mother lives there.
Aled
s mother from Tiket. She was exchanged away but exchange broken so Aled
came back and so he stayed here.
Simon
s first wife is Joe
's paternal halfsister.
M. Ahrens sent Joe
to school, but no Europeans gave him money.
Mr Schneider helped Will
with money.
Adrian
helped by me.
No one is helping Peter. No one is helping Darren
.
Nol Dunger paid John
school fees and books and some money.
Dec 16th Hunting
John
says that he has seen 7 leopards killed and about 12 cornered but escaped. He has seen many bush pigs killed. No bush cows. Occasionally he has hunted the latter on the French side but with no success.
The leopards were all killed at Mang. He has never seen one killed here.
Dec 16th Kimbing
John
can eat and has eaten this.
It is the size of a large antelope with very short stump of tail. It has as far as he knows no horns. If horns it has they must be very small as he never noticed them.
Dec 17th Incest
John
says that he has never heard of a man who married his sister in Warwar. Nor has he ever heard of a case of a man who has been caught, or later found to have slept with his sister. However he says that he is sure that plenty have done so.
John
says that in Warwar they say that if you marry your sister the offspring will be weak.
Dec 17th Cyprian
leaving the Church
He just didn't come. He committed no sin was not ex-communicated.
Dec 17th
Learned that plantains to the East of my house were planted by Roland
. He cut them today. The land belonged to Rolf
s brother who died. When I asked him who the land belonged to now, he said that he didin't know.
This is the land on which many of the people have planted tobacco. Both people of Adrian
s family and Frederick
s have planted there. Archibald
and Thor
have also.
Dec 17th Division of labour in housebuilding.
Women dont know how to mud houses in which sticks are only used as a temporary frame. They do know how to mud houses which have a permament frame. They may and do do the final rubbing over both types of houses.
In building houses which have temporary frame their job is to bring grass and carry water. Men may carry grass, but I have never seen them carry water when enough women there.
The women only cut the grass for the roof, but they dont know how to make a roof.
Men only cut palm wine ribs for the roof and carry it.
There seems to be no ritual reason for any of these, they say only that women dont know how.
Men cut the grass that has been bought by women into small pieces to bind the mud.
Both men and women stamp the mud and water together.
The mud is obtained any place. A hole is dug about 8 ft diameter, it is a circle and about 2 ft deep. Water poured in and then people get into hole, stamp around or use their hoes to muck it up.
A house is used for about 4 years, then a new one built. It is not that it is ready to fall, but that they get dirty. Old bamboos, from destroyed houses are used for temporary frame and some used in ceiling, but usually new ones used. If they are short, they may use a few old ones as well as the new ones.
Dec 17th Archibald
s house
Tigul people here
Jordan
(Neville
s compound)
Laurie
Darobinson
(his own compound)
Morley
Phineas
Emlyn
(Hartley
s compound)
Luke
(Bartholomew
s compound)
Memin - Ricky
s wife
_________________________________________
??Nomayu Tchaqdua??
Nyap Tiket, Edwin
, Nyaps wife, Rodney
and lots of women from Ndiel were here. Women of both Mans.
They will give the corn beer for this tomorrow as he wants them to build another house tomorrow. Edwin
has made 37 jugs of corn beer.
Dec 17th Phineas
Sleeps in Njeba compound.
Johnson
gave him Njir medicine (fence). Johnson
gave it to him. He doesn't know why he chose him.
He doesn't know how he and Johnson
were brothers, he knows only that big big father were the same. He doesn't know name of big big father.
When his wife is well again, he will come back to Tiket.
Dec 17th Bevis
chief of Ndarup, Mverrup, Mang and Warwar
Mang has 9 hamlets
Ndarrup has 9 hamlets
Mverrup has 9 hamlets
Mambila term for hamlets is MBOR
_______
Kabri has 8 hamlets hence 8 kassala
Vokude has 3 hamlets hence 3 kassala
Gembu has 6 hamlets hence 6 kassala
Dec 17th Rape and Fornication
Nyap (Ndiel) says:
There is plenty of sleeping with other peoples wives. The result is that the children of the wife, or the wife if she has no children gets sick. The usual fee if detected is 1 chicken for medicine.
Nyap, Lloyd
and Benjamin
did plenty of this before getting married.
Nyap and Benjamin
slept with Brett
s wife. Here children were always sick. Brett
went to a man to cut sticks. The man said that 2 men had slept wife his wife. Brett
asked the wife who said yes, Nyap and Benjamin
had slept with her. The next day Nyap met Brett
on the road and greeted him, Brett
ignored him. That evening Nyap learned from others that Brett
knew all. Brett
did not mention it to either of the culprits nor did he ask for fowls. Three months later Benjamin
came to Nyaps compound, and told him that Brett
s wife was selling corn beer. The two went and were in the house alone with her. They brought beer, drank and played, but did not fornicate.
Brett
came in. Was very angry, slapped his wife twice, and half heartedly tried to slap the two men, with no success. He cursed the two using the strong expression Meachi. He told them to get out Nyap and Benjamin
were shaking with fright. They left.
Nyap says that when he and Benjamin
got married they settled down.
Married men do not indulge so much. They fear that if they get caught, their wives will say that they will do the same.
Nyap says that if one rapes a single girl, even by force, there is no penalty, as the girl should not get sick. There is evidently no law against fornication but it is considered a sin and medicine must be made to render health either to the wife or the children. In the case of exchange marriage it is considered to be a theft of property and hence must be paid: i.e. 5 goats.
The big people are much against people sleeping with others wives, as it may lead to trouble and certainly to sickness. When Benjamin
, Nyap and Lloyd
were playing around the big people were vexed with them.
Dec 17th Cuthbert
and Marriage
Nyap says that Cuthbert
is foolish not to try and get married. I think that he is now on the verge of starting to try. Neal
has been trying for some time.
Dec 17th Chiefs month and marriage.
Learned today that one could marry in the chiefs month, without paying a penalty to the chief, if one has previously slept with the girl. If one marries, without having slept with the girl and without giving a fowl to the chief, one of the pair will get very sick and will probably die unless fowl given to the chief and medicine made.
If one marries a girl one hasn't slept with, and give fowl to the chief, it is used for making medicine, protecting the pair from illness.
Dec 17th Weather
Ever since the end of the rains it has been very cold in the morning and quite cold in the evenings.
When the people go out to frighten the birds, they bring burning bits of grass or bits of burning wood to start a fire on the farm. This is only time when they go in the morning, and for the married people. The young boys seem to do usually without a fire, though sometimes they too make one.
Dec 18th Farm palaver
We arrived at Frederick
s compound there was Frederick
, Adrian
, Archibald
, Dyson
, Mallam Taffi, Cuthbert
, Charles
, Mungo
, Nathan
, Dickson
, Cadogan
, V. Zielinski
, Delaney
and Frederick
s wife.
The conversation was between Dyson
Archibald
, Adrian
, Frederick
. The rest mainly sat. Mallam Taffi talks a bit. Cadogan
talks a lot.
It has to do with Mallam Tafis farm. Eugene
name comes in several times. I think that it has something to do with selling farms.
Fay
, Frederick
s sister and other women were in the compound, but took no part in the discussion. Only Frederick
s wife talked and this was mainly reminding Frederick
of facts.
Adrian
talks of and mentions Nathan
s farms and Anderson
s.
Frederick
seems to act as a peacemaker. He calmed down Cadogan
, when he seemed to be getting excited, and same for Adrian
.
Henry
and Bartholomew
mentioned by Dyson
.
Shovel, old type given to Frederick
by Mallam Taffi.
They start talking about labourers and M. Taffi leaves. The thing breaks up. Archibald
goes as does Clint
etc etc.
Dec 18th John
version of Farm Palaver at Lance
s.
They say Cadogan
s father bought farm from Hank
. The argument now is that Mallam Taffi wants to take back the farm. Cadogan
s father paid one shovel for it (This explains the shovel given to Frederick
). It was offered to Cadogan
but he refused it. Cadogan
didn't take it as he doesn't agree to returning farm. Frederick
says it is better for M. Taffi to go and ask Cadogan
for use of farm but not give shovel and take ownership. He goes on to say if he does then the palaver over farms sold a long long time ago. M. Taffi says no as if he asks Cadogan
, Cadogan
will not agree or give him only small.
Adrian
says that they should go and see farm and give it back to him as M. Taffi has not enough. Cadogan
vexed. Cadogan
says that he doesn't even know boundary. They agree to go see farm.
Mallam Taffi says that Archibald
gave Avis
(Ian
's sister) a shovel back and took a farm that had been sold back. Therefore he says that they should give his back.
M. Taffi, Dyson
, Delaney
, Frederick
, Adrian
and Charles
come to look at farm. It is a big one on the other side of the river toward the Mission.
Cadogan
comes. The group proceeds down to the farm. We walk around the boundaries. Frederick
, Adrian
, Charles
, Clint
, Dyson
, Cadogan
, Nathan
are there. The boundaries are well known and there is no argument.
Cadogan
says that he doesn't agree. He says that the farm is too big for one shovel.
Gerald
joins the group on its tour.
Delaney
cuts the boundary. He does this as he is Nyena Nyu and thus safe from medicine.
Spears were carried by most people on this excursion.
Cadogan
says that they must give him more. Mallam Taffi agrees and they move the boundary about 17ft in Cadogan
's favour.
Cadogan
then agrees. Palaver finished.
Dec 18th Edwin
s house
Clint
, Delaney
, Nathan
, Adrian
go from palaver immediately to house building.
This is about 11:00 am
Gregory
, Edwin
, Duke
, Finlay
, Rodney
, V. Zielinski
, Ezra
, Bill
are waiting as well as 2 men from Tscharl.
They make a wall about 1.5 ft high before putting in temporary frame.
The women of which there are about 10 go for water then wait for quite a while before going for another.
Anne
, Benjamin
s wife, Cadogan
s wife, Nyaps wife and some girls are all carrying a pot of water from time to time.
Many people now start to come including Dominic
, Nyap.
His two houses were just as high as my finger tips with arms outstretched.
Adrian
s two houses are about as high as my wrist with arms outstretched. Rodney
s are the highest I can barely reach the top with my fingertips by standing on tiptoe.
Five jugs of corn beer produced at the housebuilding
Dec 18th Rodney
and Edwin
s corn beer
The party began about 5. They first drank at Rodney
s compound, then went on to Adrian
s compound where they drank Edwin
s. Lawton
and another man came by. About 9:00 Martin
had drunk 10 cups and shared two. The other men had drunk 10 cups and shared 4. Neither were drunk. Both said that they wanted more. Could drink at least twenty.
All were people from Tigul and Ndiel except Marcus
and Rathbone
. They just came for corn beer as they did no work, coming late.
Dec 18th Rathbone
on Chiefs month
Rathbone
says that the big medicine will not be made as his brother Ryan
died. He expects to go stay at Tigul for awhile. Normally the medicine would be made tomorrow, as it is a full moon.
He says that they will make small medicine much later. This instead of the big medicine.
He went to stay at Tigul on the 18th and returned to Tscharl on the 21st.
Dec 19th Market
In the market were 27 women that is Mambila. They were selling yams, cocoa-yams, cassava, plantains, bananas and other small things. Some had corn to sell. Doris
had two hens for 6 sh apiece which she didn't sell. One trader the man from Mbamga who is always here was here. He was the only non-Mambila. 7pots of corn beer for sale.
One man had plantain. About 4 men with salt. One with dried meat and one with a leg of cow.
3 Bororo women selling butter.
As usual all mission people come to buy food.
The only one having kola was Rolf
s. He was selling Nyaps as Nyap at Mbem.
No man from Tscharl there as supervisor.
Dec 19th Corn Beer for sale.
Rolf
s wife, Brett
s wife and Frederick
s wife. No great sale as so much drunk last night.
Dec 19th Neville
s death.
Tonight and tomorrow there will be big dinner at Tigul for Neville
. This is done as his father has come from Tangara. They dont do this for Warwar people, but as Neville
s father came from Tangara they will do it for him. Tonight they will ring the bell to use Kurum to ensure that if Neville
killed by witchcraft, the witch will die. Also they will explain how Neville
died. They will drink some corn beer.
Tomorrow they will kill a lot of chickens to eat, not for medicine.
Garth
has to bring 4 as he married Neville
s first daughter. The husband of the second daughter brings 3, the husband of the third 2, the husband of the fourth 1, and any additional husbands of further daughters should bring one, but would be let off with 2 shillings. This is not a Warwar custom. That is if ones father is from Warwar it is not done.
Nathan
is bringing one pot of corn beer. This is because he is a brother, and is courtesy, not required.
Dec 19th Alec
's Marriage
Alec
has left his wife to go to Mang. Jarvis
is very angry at him. He says that if he doesn't come back at once, Stewart
who wants to will marry her.
John
and others agree that Alec
is strong head and unpleasant type.
Dec 21 Rodney
kin with Neville
Rodney
says that his fathers mother came from Ndauyp from the same Memin as Neville
s fathers mother.
Bartholomew
is not brother of Rodney
.
Nov 21 Fire
About 3:00 a fire started down by Gregory
's guinea corn farm. It raced up the hill towards Bachi (Ian
s district). People came from Tiket in large numbers and from lower Ndiel to help fight it.
They cut down many banana trees and the other trees that they use to catch water. Some of the green branches were laid down in rows to stop the fire. Others were used to stamp out the fire.
Laurence
, Deverell
and Jerome
were in the thick of the fighting issuing orders.They were the only elders there. Others came later.
The people worked very hard. Though there was no organisation.
The women got water and threw it on the fire. Some of the women wailed just as at the death of a big man. They would quickly snap out of it and get back to work.
Ron
circled the fire holding a leaf of lobal. This is supposed to make the fire peaceful.
Many banana and plantain trees were destroyed. After the fire no one seemed to be especially worried about it.
Ron
got angry at Gregory
as the fire started on his place, but the argument stilled by fire breaking out in another place. It did not flare up again; that is the argument.
Frederick
came up, but Adrian
didn't. He was the only lower Ndiel man in town not to come.
Nuaqua (Lorcan
s mother) made lobal medicine too. She went round the compound with lobal and a calabash of water, splashing this over with the leaf.
Nov 21 Ian
's Housebuilding
The house was being built when fire broke out. All people began to fight fire.
Ian
is building a square house with two rooms like Nyaps.
People working hard are:
Ian
and his wife Hugo
Gerald Marsh
Graeme
Edmund
(Tscharl) Charles
V. Zielinski
Garth
and some young men from Tscharl.
I asked Ian
to ask Deverell
to bring water. Ian
did, Frederick
was vexed that Ian
should ask a big man to do work, until he explained that I had asked just in play.
Many of the young men from Tscharl carried water.
As soon as the fire was out, those asked to come help Ian
began to work.
Dec 21st Harvey
s compound in Tiket in front of Johnson
s
Harvey
s wife Yambap money
Male Joss
5
Male in arms no name 6 months
Dec 21st Johnson
s compound
Now only Johnson
s wife and Rudolf
son about 5.
Rudolf
is the son of Johnson
s daughter who died at Tscharl. She was married with money - Rudolf
is son of Neil
of Jerome
s compound
Joanna
(daughter) in arms 9 mos. daughter of Johnson
s daughter who died in Tscharl. They called her Joanna
after her deceased mother. Joanna
is the daughter of Enoch
of Tscharl.
Dec 21st Female Nyena nyus
Can go take eggs from top of house.
They also can take first part of corn beer in basket if it is overflowing.
If a fowl is cooked for some medicine which women can eat even though medicine has not been made for them they may eat it.
They can ignore anti-theft medicine.
Dec 21 Nyena Nyu
Nyena Nyu never finishes. One is Nyena Nyu to all people to whom one is related through descent from a woman, such as mothers fathers mother, fathers, fathers mothers kin, etc.
Bryce
on
Bryce
will make fence medicine now that Neville
died. That is fence medicine for Tigul. Bryce
is older than Jake
or Hiram
.
The fence medicine made for Tigul helps Archibald
at Ndiel, and plants {sic} the small ridge of guineacorn in the town. He helps all of the people by showing them how to plant it yearly on his trial plot.
Dec 22 Rathbone
and Tscharl
The mother of Rathbone
s father comes from their family. That is from the family of Bryce
(Tigul). Bryce
says that Nathan
and Cadogan
are his brothers. Adrian
is not. The people of Neil
s man are Bryce
s brothers but not Benjamin
.
Bryce
says that he can marry Adrian
s and Archibald
s daughters but Benjamin
can not marry Archibald
s - as Archibald
s sister was his mother.
Dec 22nd Brett
s new house
Brett
is building a new house in Harold
s compound. He is going to live in Harold
s compound. He says that he just wants to, and that it is not due to illness. He says that as Adrian
is coming down to Ezra
s and Jake
s, he thinks it bad that Harold
should be alone.
I believe that he does not like Adrian
and does not want to live near him.
Dec 22nd Medicine for Finlay
s wife at Harold
s compound
Ezra
and Bill
were making medicine for Finlay
s wife. She had borne a child some time ago. The child was born with the umbilical cord wrapped round its neck. They therefore have to make twin medicine. The child is in a way treated like a twin, but instead of constantly making medicine for it, it is only done once.
Harold
has the medicine but was letting Bill
and Ezra
make it, to learn how.
A fowl was killed, as well as a small jug of corn beer drunk. The medicine made for all in compound, and they all participated in chicken and beer.
It is called Gul medicine not Felip medicine.
Dec 22nd Adrian
s housebuilding
Adrian
and Nyap (Ndiel) are tying the pole that will later support the thatch. They use long elephant grass stalks as a frame and tie them to the bamboo stalks.
For the entire roof they use 9 rounds of elephant grass stalks.
{{Page X}}
{Reverse sequence starting at other end of book (numbered in original):}
John
says its Vullama Tilli not Vultuaina or Meama.
He says gol Bello (Ju) medicine or Tschul. Hul died he got it.
One's father's daughter Nyenu Nyu
One's mother's daughter Nyenu Nyu
Who got cargo of Conan
(Jasmine
's husband) It was big men for Ian
.
What does the father of the groom call the father of the bride etc
tchutchu = spirits
Things to be checked:
Vol 1
Ian
Hindal {?} Jan 20 Term for Family. Who does it include.
?
Meabili Tsen= one mother means family . Actually means having one mother.
Sel tsen= family on fathers side. Means kinsman through other side
Me tsen=family on mothers side, same as meabili tsen.
Colin
fathers other wife
if you swear that something be true you swear by name of deceased xxxxx (John
says true).
Do girls have Felip medicine? And if so does it make any difference to marriage palaver?
Is Lobal medicine made for newly weds after they have spent first night together? james calls it Guana Bali.
What is Mavrup medicine= Mavilap. Is it made after marriage? This, according to Colin
is medicine made so that groom can see mother-in-law. How long before bride can cook in her own house? Colin
says 4 months. He also says that for 4 months that she sleeps in mother-in-laws house. John
says not true. Observed to be untrue.
Can witches make men and women impotent? yes.
Is it true that only man who has killed man or leopards can wear guinea fowl's feather. John
says true.
Sasswood called "li" or "Mber"
Due = copulation.
Is Theresa
your sister? John
said that her father's mother was in his family. Yes.
Did Along {??} stay in bush before marriage? John
said so in first September. She visited her kinsfolk at Mang.
Ndegwa. John
play name for Theresa
means young woman.
What is Chockuwe? John
said it some medicine in Along's hut. It's Tachuk medicine for your sister. We saw it made by Clifford
for Charles
.
What is Ngu medicine? Colin
says it is little white fish in medicine that kills you if you are wicked. Ngu are little white fishes but dont kill witches.
Do leopard skin given to chief sold and if so what is done with the money?
When is chief's month? What about the first person who sees moon in this month: does she make noise? Is it true that this is made {??} XXX. Is there big bean feast at end of chief's month?
What is Mangu? Colin
says it is like a man made from iron brought out at end of chief's month. It is brought out of house before chief comes. What is Ngun dance? Colin
says it is dance at end of chief's month. Adultery is gwem.
So and Sin medicines made for person who has fornicated with a woman married to another man by exchange. (see notes for Nov 27).
Is dog given in above case? Who do the five goats go to? Does one or more go to big people (see notes for Nov 27).
Is one or two fowls given for adultery with non-exchange wife? What medicine is made with them? (see notes for Nov 27).
Na chuo medicines is medicine made for new father or mother on first visit to market. Is it true that medicine man must have killed a man or a bushcow? (Nov 27 - John
: don't know).
Who has chuo medicine in Ndiel and did he shoot man or bushcow?
Tschuk?/Tscharl medicine - who has it in Warwar. Is he first to eat guinea corn? Is it true that first day after he cuts guinea corn, that all people go hunting and bring him the bag; which he distributes. Is Bartholomew
first man of Warwar to plant guinea corn for Warwar.
No, Bartholomew
doesn't eat before other Tschuk men. It depends which hamlets guinea corn is ready first, which eats it first. If Tiket's is first Jerome
will eat first. If Tscharl is first Harry
, if Tigul then Bartholomew
,. If Ndiel then Adrian
Nov. 28 Fence Fixing.
Ron
as he is nyena nyu was behind the fence cleaning the place. He was the only one. Fixing the fence outside was Emile
, Roland
, Thor
and Jake
/Jake
/Jake
.
Archibald
was sitting on the outside. He had to give no directions as they all seemed to know just what to do.
Roland
tied on the lobal grass on to the entrance of the fenced area. He did this very casually saying no formula. There was no difference at all between his doing this and at times when he tied up other parts of the fence. Several women walked by. They expressed no interest in the proceedings and the men did not even greet them.
Jed
, Brian
, Spencer
, Nicholas
, Clement
all arrive with extra grass to fix fence. Only Spencer
, Clement
help fix fence. The small boys play around quite gaily outside of the fence
Nov 28 Child Training
Madams was crying a great deal. I asked Nyap why he didn't flog her. He said that it as a very bad thing to flog pickens until they were about 5 or 6. He said that it was much better to frighten them by telling that Jujus were going to catch them or Europeans.
It seems to be the case that children up until about 4 or 5 don't mind/??xxx very well. The smaller ones cry a lot when left alone and as a result are usually carried about, even when well able to walk.
About 5 or 6 they begin to obey orders as a rule very well. I believe that this is largely due to the fact that if they disobey an older person, all of the elders will scold them. In the view of the small child, elders act as a xxxx. I think that this used to be the case with the Nor tali in relation to younger adults. They all say that they used to have fairly frequent meetings at which they discussed policy and usually agreed among themselves and then acted as a body. Now the younger people frequently come to the meetings and see that the elders disagree.
Nov 28
I heard today that the old woman in Nyaps compound (Ndiel) calling Nyap's wife Rose
Ngapi when calling her.
Who is the first man to plant guinea corn. Any of the Tscharl men may (Archibald
is first in Ndiel, but he does so only in small small ridge). Adrian
however has first planted hidden one that no one can see)
Bartholomew
, Adrian
Cecil
Kambal Tscharl are first to plant. Colin
says Bartholomew
plants first in Warwar
, must check this - this is not so.
A man at Tigul has fence medicine as well as Tscharl, but they don't have a fence. Bryce
has it for Tscharl, Pip
has it for Tigul. Neville
Adrian
however has first planted hidden one that no one can see)
Bartholomew
, Adrian
Cecil
Kambal Tscharl are first to plant. Colin
says Bartholomew
plants first in Warwar
, must check this - this is not so.
A man at Tigul has fence medicine as well as Tscharl, but they don't have a fence. Bryce
has it for Tscharl, Pip
has it for Tigul. Bakul> came to Ndiel and Bryce
to Tiker.
The report says that Nama or Numa is an elders religious society. Here it means the medicine to drive the dead. Colin
says that bring in dance to
Bel field before Tachambin?
John
says that a sisters son cannot call his mothers brother father, while Ian
says that he can. This it seems to me is an academic question, as the term is never used to my knowledge.
Ian
says that Tschang is a new word. Introduced after missionaries to mean God. Both he and Nyap (Tiker) say that it was not used before them. The dead called Maka or Nan which means exactly the same thing, namely the dead. The above means Maka and Nan have the same meaning
Dec 22nd Fire
A fire is an emergency, that is if it threatens a compound. All people, both men and women come at a rush.
The setter of a fire is not held responsible. Even if he does so stupidly their attitude is that anyone can make a mistake. They are ideally not supposed to get vexed if someone has burnt their compound, but at least Luther
/??Lothar
?? did, but he quickly got over it. No measures will be taken against ??Gibson
's daughter.
John
says that a cluster of compounds were burned down at Mang. All of the people of Mang spent the next two weeks building new compounds. No corn given. All the people of Mang each donated a basket of corn to replace that which was burned.
Questions of this sort is looked upon as a town disaster and all cooperate both in fighting it and in the reconstruction.
Nelson
and his brothers are to help Ian
build his house.
Nelson
(Tscharl) - the man who married Ian
's sister was the man who married Michelle
- Michelle
's mother with Ian
's mother had the same mother.
The Ndiel people not asked, but many came.
Dec 23 Osbert
(the big man at Tiket who was making cloth and speaks well)
Can marry Adrian
's daughter, Frederick
's, Bartholomew
, Brent
.
Cahill
can marry any of these.
Deverell
can marry any of these daughters. Can also marry Nyap's daughters, that is Nyap of Tiket.
Dec 23rd Dead exit from house. Whenever a man dies, he can not be taken out door of the house. A hole must be made in the back of the house. This is also done if man dies under store house. The mats are opened in the back to take the corpse out.
Dec 23 Women's Juju
Gerard
Lobal medicine. Made to stop birds from chopping guinea corn. Also when plenty sickness comes, lobal put at entry of town and each compound. When fire wants to burn compound they make the medicine. Made in compound so that bad sick wont come, and that a small amount of chop will satisfy people. They make the big Lobal medicine at the time guinea corn brought home. Last year they made the medicine, but didin't dance. It is when they dance that the women wear loin cloths.
Gerard
has the medicine, Damien
, Abner
, Delia
Archibald
's wife.
She says that Luther
is only man that has it. His mother gave it to him. One of her older sisters gave it to her. The sister was the mother of Eustace
The women of Tscharl, Tigul and Tiket have it. They make it for each hamlet independently. However visitors of other hamlets may come and drink the corn beer, but they dont help with the medicine.
They make the medicine and dance at night.
If a man does not have the medicine and sees it, they will get very bad backache. Medicine will have to be made to cure him.
They can make the medicine without loin clothes but they like to wear it for fun.
Sometimes after the medicine and dance they will go and dance for a big man and the man will have to pay.
Dec 24th Fence medicine.
Sacheverell
- his grandmother came from Johnson
's family. She married at Semben. Married with money. She bore Sacheverell
's father. Sacheverell
's grandmother died at Gembu. Sacheverell
's father came back here. Sacheverell
and Yang are real brothers. Sacheverell
senior of the two. Peter
got him to help him as he wants to teach him. Peter
will do it until he dies then Sacheverell
will do it.
Peter
's father came from Johnson
's family. The father of Peter
's father was also the father of Johnson
's father.
Dec 24th Marcus
marrying sister
The father's mother of the girl came from here. That. They don't know the name of the father's mother's father or her mother. The mother of Roger
's father was the woman. She bore their father Ferdinand
in Tscharl. Ferdnand
{sic} was Roger
's father.
Archibald
's wife is Roger
's real sister. That is the wife he exchanged. Archibald
and Delia
(that is Roger
's real sister) delivered Suzette
who was Marcus
's wife.
The big people were vexed but he gave a spear and a cock that Archibald
took. 3 pickens born all are dead. She then stopped conceiving. When she stopped conceiving her mother said that she should leave and see if she would conceive with another man, She married at Mang and didn't conceive. She now sleeps at Archibald
's compound. Marcus
is trying to marry her again. The only reason that it was permitted is that Marcus
's father not from here.
Dec 24 Medicine at Frederick
's
We returned in while Frederick
was to making medicine. This called Ngam medicine. He made it for Aylmer
and Andrei
. Andrei
and Aylmer
's stomach were hurting.
Dec 24th Christmas Eve at Wawa
The church service preceded by much singing. A short talk by Joe Curtis
: he is extremely authoritarian conceited and generally disagreeable. He is not very intelligent. Has learned to parrot a lot of phrases and that's about all. There was more xxxhing. The teacher read a passage from St Luke regarding the nativity. Then Victor Smith
made a short talk about his life. Followed about Will Zeitlyn
on "How to Become a Christian" then Montgomery
recited the verse on " How God Save this only son"; Knox
on how he backslid. Then a song by Curtis
in English. A song by Mervin
, Church Teach and Montgomery
in Nsungli. Then Will Zeitlyn
and Will Brewer
a song in English. Teacher prayed. Finish.
It is extraordinary how the church has not been integrated into the local structure.
The people sitting on chairs in front were Curtis
, Mervin
, Teacher, Montgomery
, Gerald Marsh
and Mallam Taffi. The latter was a Christian until he became prosperous.
Dec 25th Corn Beer
John
sent a small pot of corn beer to Nathan
. The man from Mang told Nathan
that xx/??no John
brought the corn/??can, if Nathan
asked for a bigger one he would not get it.
John
was vexed at this as he said that it was a lie. When Nathan
said that it was small and sent it back, John
sent him a larger one.
Nathan
was very vexed when he thought that if he complained John
wouldn't send another pot.
Dec 25 Cadogan
and Mallam Taffi Farm Palaver
Nathan
asked me whether Cadogan
had to return the farm. He said that Cadogan
did not wish to. Mallam Taffi's father's father sold it to Cadogan
's father.
Evidently there is no precedent for this. The case that Mallam Taffi cited to me of Archibald
was not a rule. Archibald
's father had merely let a man use his farm and had held some cargo as security. Archibald
returned the farm cargo and got the cargo back {Archibald
returned the cargo and got the farm back}. . It was never a sale.
Cadogan
says that Frederick
and Adrian
say that Mallam Taffi should not get the farm back unless Cadogan
agrees. I think Mallam Taffi wants the farm as he plans to grow coffee there.
They admit that they fear Mallam Taffi as he know book. Cadogan
took shovel but he wants to send it back.
Dec 25th Agreement
People with whom ones kin has made agreement one can not marry. One also can call them Be or Dim etc.
Dec 25th Increase Medicine
This medicine called Wun. It is planted with crops, or when crops ready to be gathered. It makes the food more plentiful. It may be used with all crops including cocoyams, wuli, sorghum, corn etc.
It also sometimes ground up with corn flour to make it last and not have people eat too much.
Dec 25 Cadogan
and Mallam Taffi Farm Palaver
Nathan
told me that Avis
(one of Taffi's?? older sisters now dead) is the one who leased Archibald
's farm.
She wanted to buy it. He refused and only agreed to let her use it. He left a shovel with him. When Archibald
wanted it back, he gave the shovel back and took the farm. He gave the shovel back to Avis
who at that time - she was still alive
Dec 25th Christmas at Warwar.
most pagans not interested. The church service completed the members went to some only of the others members compounds and drank corn beer. They went to Mallan Taffi's compound (Delaney
s) where there were many people assembled, big people from many towns and there the church Teacher had the effrontery to preach a sermon. Joe Curtis
was running around shushing people while this going on. Unfortunately the big people accepted the shushing and didn't tell him off.
They later went to Nyap's compound where they drank more beer, sang and danced. Nyap sent two pots of beer to the few big people there. The pagans drank this and the Christians drank 4 pots.
The clothes seen on this day were something horrible to behold. Humphrey
wore a bright coloured sweater, and over it an undershirt. This was done by 4 others. Others mainly wore horribly torn European type clothing. The women wore mostly the ordinary cloths. Very few Christian women were naked. I could only 2 {sic}. No Christian man wore only a loincloth. Some however wore only shorts with no tops. The men and women seen to have borrowed clothes from all and sundry, to get as much on as possible.
Last night they had all night drink at Mission. Only the more acculturated Mambilas went, Will
, Martin Will Zeitlyn
, John
Knox
and Nyap. The Church teacher of course was there.
Dec 25th Mallam Taffi's Party
He gave a dinner for the parents of his wives (those that had just have {sic} children) and his mothers kin from Genbu. Palm wine was served as well as corn beer, He slaughtered a goat for the occasion. There were about 75 men and 50 women. Jonathan
and Rathbone
represented Tscharl. Austin
, Mark
, Jerome
and Diarmuid
Tiket. Frederick
Rees
and Adrian
Thor
from Ndiel. There were others from these places, but the above were the biggest men. There were also 4 big men from Tigul, but not Bartholomew
.
The big men from the various hamlets as a rule kept together in isolated groups. This was specially marked in the case of The Tiket people.
Dec 24th Agreement
Today I heard John
's mother calling Roland
"brother" this is Bruno
. I asked John
why and he didn't know. I asked Roland
and he didn't know. Then I asked her and she said that her mother's mother came from Yambap. They had an agreement with Roland
's kin. Hence they are brother and sister, though there is no kin tie.
She went on to say that her daughter could not marry Roland
n for Christmas. He gave most of it to Adrian
, Denzil
divided it under Adrian
's supervsision. Though only Adrian
and Denzil
were there, small bits were kept for all the people of Adrian
's man. Nyap also gave Adrian
a pot of corn beer.
Dec 27 Party at Tiket ??Farms for Christmas
Charles Jeremy
gave the dinner. He gave about 5 pots of corn beer. One chicken and some beef produced. The people sang and danced. Peter
gave 3 pots of corn beer and the Christians went there. Peter
's wife is a Christian. Gave one chicken and beef. R. Carter
's compound gave 3 pots, gave some beef.
Lawrence
> "brother" this is Bruno
. I asked John
why and he didn't know. I asked Roland
and he didn't know. Then I asked her and she said that her mother's mother came from Yambap. They had an agreement with Roland
's kin. Hence they are brother and sister, though there is no kin tie.
She went on to say that her daughter could not marry Roland
's daughter{sic}.
Dec 26 Distribution of Food
Nyap killed a chicken for Christmas. He gave most of it to Adrian
, Denzil
divided it under Adrian
's supervsision. Though only Adrian
and Denzil
were there, small bits were kept for all the people of Adrian
's man. Nyap also gave Adrian
a pot of corn beer.
Dec 27 Party at Tiket ??Farms for Christmas
Charles Jeremy
gave the dinner. He gave about 5 pots of corn beer. One chicken and some beef produced. The people sang and danced. Peter
gave 3 pots of corn beer and the Christians went there. Peter
's wife is a Christian. Gave one chicken and beef. R. Carter
's compound gave 3 pots, gave some beef.
Lawrence
, Jerome
, Ben
, Deverell
, Rathbone
, Ross
(Tscharl), Gregory
, Rodney
, Bill
. No one at all from Tigul. Church teacher was there. Mallam Taffi not there. Ngalon wine.
Dec 27th Relative Ages
Nyap at Tiket older than Philip
.
Dec 27th Frederick
and Adrian
born on the same day. Frederick
in morning, Adrian
in afternoon.
Dec 27th Farm dispute
All of the big people of Tigul including Bartholomew
, came to Ndiel. Then all the big people of Ndiel and those of Tigul sat on the dance place. There they discussed the problem. Tigul people said that farm Dyson
working belonged to them.
They had already visited the farms Frederick
said that it was not too good to talk too much as people would be vexed.
Dyson
said that his father had said that the farm belonged to him. Jonas
is the man who says that farms are his.
The farm has not been used for some time, actually Frederick
has never seen it used.
Dyson
says that his father stole a wife and ran away to Vokude.
Jonas
says that Dyson
lies. He says that they should go try sasswood. Jonas
says that he will be glad to take sasswood. Jonas
is very angry. He says that he wants to take sasswood.
(Jonas
is the man with grey hair who sold me Tatschap).
Bartholomew
says as long as no one ??hvous??/??envious??.
Jake
, Archibald
, Ron
, Frederick
, V. Zielinski
, Mitchell
, Harold
, Dyson
, Mallam Taffi, Adrian
, Ian
, Charles
, Lawton
, Caleb
and Lowry
have farms from Ndiel.
Harold
says not to argue but to each show the boundary they think then have quarrels drink sasswood.
Only Dyson
, Adrian
, Harold
, Frederick
, Mallam Taffi Jonas
and Bartholomew
do much talking. Jimmy
of Tigul talks some.
Pete Dawson
(who has one father and mother with Jonas
sleeps temp at Tigul) Tanya Njibvua Allardice
Jonas
, Bartholomew
Emlyn
are from Tigul.
Dyson
says that a long time ago they gave chickens sasswood and they didn't die.
Adrian
says that they should define the boundary then give sasswood to chicken, Frederick
says the same.
Jonas
tells Adrian
that he must not help Dyson
in this case even though they are brothers. This must be settled on basis of justice not kinship.
Adrian
says that Jonas
will say that the farm belonged to his full brother. If his chicken dies it shows that farm is Dyson
's otherwise it is his.
Jonas
is very vexed and says that Dyson
is only telling lies. Dyson
does not get vexed.
Bartholomew
says Dyson
is lying - He says that they should take sasswood and finish.
Harold
says that they should drink sasswood tomorrow. Dyson
says no.
{Added later in biro:} Archibald
never said a word during entire proceeding.
Dyson
refuses to use sasswood. The concensus of opinion is that Jonas
will get it.
When I asked Adrian
right out, who would get, when I asked why he said that it was because it was Jonas
's father. Under futher questioning he said that he didn't know. Both Graeme
and John
said that he didn't want to say Dyson
was lying, but that he knew that he was.
Inebriated discussion with Gregory
and Rodney
there were hints that they thought Dyson
was lying but didn't like to say so.
Jonas
said that he had plenty of farms but how could he let a man steal his.
The Tigul people left in a body. Some of the people had spears at the meeting.
Dec 27th. Alec
's wedding
Alec
has married at Mang, His wife has left for ??Jarvis
's compound and is now considered to be no longer married to Alec
.
Dec 27th Ezra
s roofing
Ezra
gave corn beer for people to come roof, this is put up the bamboos for a frame.
They did all the work involved in placing the bamboos and the elephant grass binding.
Dec 27th House building.
I notice that most houses are built with a binding of elephant grass, bamboo like parts, around the top of the mid wall. This acts as a support for the heavy bamboo that form the frame on which the thatching is laid.
There are beams usually six through each side stuck through the mud walls. These help to support the bamboos used as flooring for the upper storey.
The beams are made up of bamboos.
The most weight of the floor of the upper storey is carried by an inner ring of elephant grass (That is the bamboo like part is laid onto the beams).
Dec 27th Shovels (hoes)
We saw Deverell
going down to water with a basket on his back. When asked what was inside he said clothes to wash. We thought this odd so John
and I followed him. When we arrived he was washing 8 hoes. Seven were the old square type. Only one was the new rounded type.
He was annoyed that we had followed him as he doesn't want people to know that he has as many as they will ask for them.
He says that he bought them for prices varying between 1 and 6 to 4 shillings. He admits to having had most of them a very long time. He says that he keeps them as they may be useful at any time.
Dec 27th Blacksmithing
When we arrived at Tiket we found Ibrahim
making a spear. He had gotten the iron from two old shovels. It was about 3/4 of an arm long. The price quoted was 10sh.
Dec 28th Shuul
The special place on the path upon what medicine is made by Archibald
in Ndiel. Shuul only in Ndiel and Tiket. Peter
makes the medicine in Tiket.
This is done to bring peace to the town, to keep birds from the guinea corn, and keep bad medicines away. Archibald
does this alone. Changon stays close to keep people away. Tschun usual does the same for Peter
.
If man is going hunting he he cant pass through. If he is taking things to the market, many men dont pass through, though nowadays many dont follow this restriction. Women dont go through when menstruating or when going to sell things at the market, or when they go to catch fish.
Dec 28th Dyson
's farm palaver
Both Rolf
and Ian
say that there is no question in their minds that the farm belongs to Jonas
. They say that Dyson
is just trying to steal it.
Dyson
has been using the farm for three years. Jonas
asked Dyson
for it back, and Dyson
said no it was his, this is what caused the palaver. Jonas
asked for it two years, but did not press the matter.
Jonas
said nothing when five years ago Dyson
built a water road and started to use the farm.
Dec 31st Mbamga Market.
The market is much larger than Warwar. Many more Mambilas selling food and selling different forms of Nganaga. There were 12 such traders instead of the usual 2 or three at Warwar.
There were seven sellers of cloth instead of the usual 2 or three at Warwar.
Food is a bit dearer. Bananas instead of 10 for a penny are 8 for a penny.
Much more trading is done in food than at Warwar. There were about 50 or 60 Bororo men and women here, in contrast to the 8 or 10 usually found at Warwar.
They have built only 1 house for traders.
Foofoo is 1d a pan.
Dec 31st Mbamga Rest house
The rest house is much nicer than at Warwar. The roof is not supported by the walls, there being a space between them. The roof is supported by stakes that hold it up by the lip of the roof and of course the central pole
The walls of the houses are kept beautifully smooth. Partly this is a result of frequent scrubbing, and partly as the roof is not supported by the wall and hence not cracked by pressure.
John
says that they know how to build this sort of house at Warwar, but don't because its too much trouble.
I have not seen any native houses of this sort. They probably would not like them as they might be colder; also a granary would be more difficult to build.
However as usual the roof leaks. However it does not leak very much Thank God. About 10 women in the market were wearing red cloths (European manufacture) over their sexual organs. It was looped over the usual string. However they wore nothing in the back, not worn like a loin cloth.
I would guess that the population of women wearing cloths is higher than at Warwar but not very much.
I only recognised one Warwar woman here and that was Charles
's sister. She had corn to sell.
One man sold pots of foofoo. This about 3 inches in diameter, and with a lard of groundnut oil sold for 1/2 d. He had one plate with a knife and fork which could be used by his customers. Of course they weren't washed.
Some of the Mambila younger men and women danced in the market about 1.00pm. The only difference with Warwar style is that some carried calabashes with stones inside as rattles. The Fulani and Bororo watched but did not dance. When I asked some Bororo girls why they didn't dance, they said they didn't know how.
Dec 31st Fulani and Bororo at Kabri
A few of the camp of the above have a bit of guinea-corn growing around the camp, sometimes even inside it.
Don Doka
One Don Doka is attached to the Native Court. Named Rupert
.
Dec 31st Court Scribe: Joe
.
Joe
is the court scribe. He went to C.B.M. school. Is a Christian. He is a Kaka boy from Anteri.
He wants to move away from the town, that is to a place near the R.H. as the Mohammedans are giving him trouble. He evidently wants nothing to do with the latter, as he says they confuse him.
He says that Mallam Taffi took on Mohammedan fashions and that this was bad.
I must find out what he means by giving him trouble. Whether this is just religious trouble, or trying to bribe him &c.
Joe
failed the exam at end of standard five. He then worked with Mallam Taffi for a while. Then he was sent to Yola to learn Hausa.
1st January 1954 Court at Mbamga
Court panel at this session
Arnado Warwar - Arnado Mbarr
Sarkin Hausoua Tamnyar - Wakili Daniel
- Bororo Mbamga
Arnado Sa
Arnado Dale
- Arnado Tamnyar
Court clerk: Joe
Anteri
One Don Doka.
The court is a small square house. A special very small room with a slit about 8 inches wide and 2ft high that opens into the court room is used by women.
This is the court where Mallam Taffi held sway for so long.
Second panel on alternate markets
Arnado Bang
Mbamga
War
Tep
Vokude
Wakili Adamu - Tamnyar Bororo
They meet three days the day after market.
Joe
took over 24-8-53.
Joe
says if Bororo men spoils farm two times they get fined £5 if the third time they go to prison. M. Taffi did not observe this, but Du Boulay told J
. that he must.
Gembu court is an appeal court for the towns of the chiefs listed above. The court can try cases of Bororo vs. Mambila and v.v. as well as Mambila vs. Mambila. If both parties satisfied the case finishes here.
£5 is the limit.
3 months is the limit of prison sentences to be set by this court.
The list shows only one case of a Farmer Grazier dispute taken to court by a Warwar man in 1953. This was taken by Dominic
against Toby
. Dominic
got 20sh from Toby
.
The list supposedly lists all farmer grazier disputes heard either at the Native Court in Gembu or Mbamga.
For 1953 42 (The record is not complete. I believe it)
1952 89
1948 52
1947 68
1951 134
1950 102
1949 158
Adultery is fined by a fine of £5 to man, £3 to woman. That is if a married woman sleeps with a man.
The court supposedly sticks to native law and custom of Mambila. Muslem - Mambila cases can be tried here, but Muslim-Muslim cases cannot be.
The person who summons another has to get a stick:
which he then gives to the person that he wants to summon. The person who is summoning the other has to pay 2sh which he doesn't get back even if he wins the case. Sometimes they send the stick via a messenger. If the stick is given one comes onetime if the court is in session.
In the square hole of the stick is written A.N.A. which means Adamawa Native Authority.
Jan 1st Court Case.
A man stole corn at Mbar. All the people are Mbar people.
Bevis
is only court member present that is Mambila.
An older man stole corn from a younger man.
All knives spears taken out of court.
One of the men from whom corn taken had a small knife. He was told to take it out.
One man saw another steal it. The witness is here as well as defendant and person whose corn stolen.
The Sarkin Baki is used as interpreted as Bevis
does not know Mbar talk well.
The defendant says he didn't steal it. If he won't admit it witness will swear bell.
The witness says that he saw him. The theft occurred at night.
The man whose corn was stolen was away and had told the witness to watch his home. Corn stolen from house.
The witness had seen the man go into the house and steal corn. The accused had a reputation as a thief.
The Sarkin Hassaua of Tamnya comes in. He asks whether the witness saw all things fine.
The defendant looks horribly frightened. He is about 45. He continues to claim that he knows nothing about it.
Sarki Baki is acting as prosecuting attorney though he has no official status. It is mainly because Bevis
does not know Mbar talk.
The witness says that the stick belongs to the defendant. It was taken by the witness after he had confronted thief who had fled.
Sarki Hassaua says defendant should swear. Bevis
says no the witness should swear.
(As John
interprets to me the whole proceedings stop)
Sarki Hassaua consents?? to insist that defendant should swear. Bevis
says no. Sarki Hassaua says if he lies he will die as he should.
Sarki Hassaua says that they should use sasswood on 2 chickens. Defendant says that he doesn't want to use sasswood. Bevis
says that if he doesn't want to, he must be guilty. He does agree to swear the bell. He does not want take sasswood, but he does not say why. He continues to insist that he will swear bell.
They handcuff the defendant.
Sarki Hassaua says that he should go to Gembu to Alkali's court.
Bevis
says that they shouldn't go to Gembu but try in native fashion.
The Sarki Hassaua says its better for defendant to swear bell, otherwise they defendant will go to D.O. when he comes and be fined.
They are going to finish case in Gembu, as he doesn't want to take sasswood.
Bevis
says that its not good to go Gembu as all chiefs not there.
Sarki Hassaua says that the government wants defendant to swear bell as this he says is what the D.O. wants.
Bevis
says that he doesn't want the defendant to swear the bell, as he says that even if he knows that he did it, he will swear it to avoid trouble.
They now have decided to await all of the court members to see what to do.
John
says that a guilty person would swear the bell from shame, even though he knows that he would die.
The court adjourned as not enough members were present.
Two hours later it reconvenes. This time outside.
The man to be tried, the one who is said to have stolen the corn now has his handcuffs both tied on one hand. He is busy in the square making a chain. He is called over. Bevis
had disappeared and the court starts without him.
Arnado Tamnyar starts questioning both the witness and the defendant again. Bevis
arrives 10 mins after the court starts after people sent in all directions looking for him.
Native chief of Tamnyar is head of this panel. Todd
is head of the other court.
The chief of Tamnyar asks whether he wants to take sasswood. He says no. The chief says if he doesn't want to take it he will go to prison.
The head of the court is supposed to do most of the questioning.
New Case.
Two men come. They lie on ground. One man brought palm wine from another for 1sh. He then refused to pay. He ??asked?? to fight. The seller pushed the other and pushed him to the ground. Then the other wanted to fight. The man who got pushed is the man making the case.
The court adjourns while witnesses to the affray are called. The defendant and plaintiff are Mbamga people.
A man from Mbamga says a Bororo spoiled his farm. He is given a stick and told to give it to the Bororo.
The people are so sure that sasswood will show a persons guilt that they refuse as man accused of stealing corn did. They know that their chicken will die and that all know they did.
The accused is the one who pushed the man. The plaintiff appears with his witness. Chief of Tamnyar goes. Bevis
is now the interpreter.
The man who pushed the other, when the latter took off his cloth to fight, said no he wouldn't fight as other was a big man. He took the older mans clothes and went. The clothes are still with him.
The seller pushed the other to ground when the other wanted to fight he took off his clothes and left.
Chief of Tamnyar comes back. The whole thing gone over. The Chief of Tamnyar repeats all in Fulani to Joe
as the evidence all given in Mambila.
The Chief of Tamnyar fines him 30 shillings not even consulting Bevis
or anyone. If the man had been injured, they could not settles the case until he was well.
The defendant is vexed as he said that he admitted they should make the costs less. The Chief of Tamnyar says that he doesn't want a lot of noise from the man to go away. No more palavers. The Chief of Tamnyar I believe likes efficiency. He says that he does not like to waste time.
Joe
says that The Chief of Tamnyar is very good, and he would like to see him head of both panels.
The cloth of the palaver is returned. The man tries to palaver again. The Chief of Tamnyar tells him to go get the money.
The defendant is handcuffed to the man who stole corn. He tries to find a man who will go get the 30sh from his wife.
They both are put into the lockup.
Palaver between S. Barki (Mbamga??) and ex-wife is called. She had been married to another man. Left him married S. Barki. Then left him for old husband.
S. Barki asks for cargo back. He says total cost £9 16sh.
5 shovels bought by the ex-wife.
2 small fowls. 1 shilling in pennies.
£3-7sh is total money bought.
Big shovel valued at 3 sh another at 3
Traditional shovels 75 sh each. Total money and shovels £4-13s. 2 chicken valued at 6 sh. Total £4-19sh.
A full sized female goat bought and tiny one bought. They valued at £1-1sh.
The valuation done by the chief of Tamnyar and Wakarli.
Total value is £6-0-0. They say that £3-16sh remains to be paid.
Yerima?? Vokude?? xxxxx
Another 10 shillings produced.
19 shillings and six pence taken by the court. From every 10 sh that plaintiff receives the court takes 1 sh.
Jan 2nd 1954 Mbamga court and market.
In the morning when we came the man who is accused of stealing the corn was sweeping the compound.
The Don Doka showed us the prison. Much like Nyap's house except no granary. The doors are made of bamboo and are kept closed by large logs pressed against them.
The lockup has 2 doors and a wall dividing the house into two
A is a hole in the wall near one of the central posts where a prisoner who has escaped is handcuffed.
The Don Doka told me that the N.A. gave £7 to fix the lock up but it was never done. It looks as if it will fall any moment.
Jan 2nd 1954 Mbamga court by Chief of Tamnyar
They judge some with new fashion and some with old.
One change is now that fighting is penalized if taken to court.
In pre-court times he says that if in case of money marriage one got some cargo back. He later says that they did not get it back.
(In case seen yesterday SB got back what he had given to the husband when he took the wife first)
He has been on the court since it inception.
They do farmer-graziers. Decided on basis of European law. Court works for Warwar, Vokude, Yambap, Tamnyar, Mbar, Tep, Sa, Yagi, War, Bang, Mbamga, Mberrup, Ndarrup.
Farmer-grazier disputes, plaintiff and defendant can choose whether to come here first or to Gembu.
Mallam Taffi sometimes interfered too much and wrote up cases after in different ways then they had judged. Therefore he thinks Joe
will be better.
Suggestions that he thinks might make court better:
He doesn't want any Fulani and Bororo on the courts.
He says that he doesn't want purely Bororo cases to come here.
He doesn't want farmer-grazier disputes bought to Gembu. He wants only in these cases Bororo to be represented on the court.
All of the court members agree including the Bororo member that Fulani man from Tamnyar shouldn't be a member. The Fulani talks too much and tries to run things too much.
He says salary is not enough.
They get 1sh for the 3 days. That is to be chop money.
As chief of town some get 3 sh some 7 and some 5 sh a month. 1 sh.
They dont get a part of tax. Kassalas get sometimes a pound some 10 sh some 5 depending on no. of people.
Chief says he learned Hausa as many Hausa live at Tamnya. They are mainly traders. Many kola traders (Hausa) live there. His father was chief before him.
Jan 2nd Mbamga court.
The chief of Mbar arrived about 12:00. Nothing had happened as yet, as they say not enough people there.
So far only
Chief of Wawa, Tamnyar and Mbar.
and Sarkin Hausawa Tamnyar are here.
About 1:00pm. The man who stole the corn, the witness, the plaintiff and the walking stick brought in.
Joe
asks witness whether he brought fowl. He says no.
Bevis
explains the case the the Chief of Mbar. The Chief of Mbar is a bit stimulated, has probably drunk too much. Joe
says that he is often like this and he is vexed.
The three Mambila chiefs are sure that he stole it, as he refuses to take sasswood. They all say if his fowl vomits they will let will go. But he still refuses.
The Chief of Mbar says that he was caught stealing once before and fined £1 but this was done in town.
They don't know exactly how much he stole. About 4 or 5 tied bunches of corn they would guess. They say that he will pay plaintiff £1-2-4.
They send him to prison for 3 months. He will pay after he gets out.
Second Case.
A man took a case to Gembu. It was between he and another Mambila. The Alkali told him to come here. Chief of Tamnyar is vexed and he tells him that he must pay £2 or if he wont pay, then he will spend 2 months in jail. This case finished in about 5 minutes and unilaterally by Tamnyar's chief. The man agrees to pay. The D.O. said that all cases between Mambilas should first be brought to Mbamga and then if not satisfied, they could go to Gembu.
Kassala Yambap comes in sits, but he is not on the court.
Wakili Daniel
comes. He is a Bororo from Mbamga.
Case 3 Farmer Grazier Dispute
A Mambila from Mbamga is the plaintiff. Mambila man says there is accord. Bororo man says no. There were just Tin trees. The Chief of Tamnyar says if water road spoiled Bororo will pay. if not and Tin not completely spoiled he will only pay small.
The Don Doka is going to look tomorrow to see whether there is a water road. The Mambila will pay 2 shillings for the Don Doka to go look. The Mambila man agrees.
Case 3
Two middle aged Mambila men come. They sit down. The court does nothing for about 25 minutes while Joe
writes, industriously but very slowly.
The Audo leaves and does not come back for this case. The panel represented here by Chief Tamnyar, Bevis
and Mbar (the latter is asleep).
One man paid the forest guard £1 to cut down more trees. The defendant then said this was his fathers for wood and he wanted to work it. They are both Mverup men. Bevis
explains case to Chief of Tamnyar.
The defendant called Liam
.
The plaintiff xxxx?? the man who paid the £1.
The plaintiff suggested that the other give him 10 sh and they work farm together. The defendant got vexed and challenged him to fight. He now says that he didn't start to fight, but when Bevis
had called him to his compound, he admitted that he had.
The symbolic gesture in the challenge of the fighting was the defendants cutting the ground with his cutlass. This is just like fighting a man. It is for this that he was summoned.
Court adjourned.
One case of a man (? one man Tamnyar one man Mbar) with another man's wife. He was fined £5 and one goat. Bevis
doesn't know why they charged the xxxxxx
At Tamnyar in case of seduction of exchange wife now give 5 goats 3 chickens one dog, one spear. He says that at Tamnyar they did the same whether exchange or {bridewealth} marriage. Mbar thay gave 5 goats, 3 chickens one dog one spear for exchange. If you both sleep with bride by purchase then he only pays five goats, if a stranger he pays the same as in exchange. In Mang 5 goats 3 chickens in exchange and in money one one chicken.
The man who fought the other man symbollically is brought in. He eventually made a great deal of trouble for the other man. He is fined £3. This is assessed by Chief of Tamnyar. This is done so that he wont start again. He asks to be forgiven. The Chief of Tamnyar says to Don Doka to take him away, he doesn't want to hear anymore.
Marriage Palaver.
John
says in Mbamga they used to pay 5 goats 3 chickens for exchange. One chicken for money marriages. Now he says if person is from same town they only make them pay one fowl, if from another town they take to court and get as much as possible.
If man wanted to fight the other doesn't pay quickly he will be sent to Gembu to prison.
??the term?? is 3 months. The same word for moon used.
A further case: defendant from Mverrup, plaintiff from Mbamga. One man gave custody of his chickens to another's wife. The wife was supposed to give all to owner and owner would dash him some. The husband of custodian didn't give him some. Only one chicken loaned. The defendant says the woman better be called. The defendant told to get his ex-wife was called.
The Bororo doesn't enter into purely Mambila palavers, but the Fulani does.
New case. Both from Mbar. Two fathers. One says that the son of the others son ran away with his daughter. The defendant says that the son does not sleep in his compound. Some man had worked farm with her. The plaintiff had wants the defendant to produce his son and daughter. If the girl wants to stay with the son, she may if the son produces the cargo. The girls father will then pay off the man who worked farm. The sons father says that he doesn't know where they eloped to. The father of the groom is the chief of Mbar's senior brother.
The chief of Tamnyar says that the grooms father should gather a brideprice to pay off bride's family also to pay off the jilted lover.
The father truly does not know where son is.
Jan 2nd 1954. Farm palaver.
We went out to farms that had been destroyed.
The entire number of Tin trees have been flattened. The loss on firewood is small, as they could start sprouting. ??Time?? now to prepare farms for corn. The big loss as far as I can see is the seeds. They have not come out and will not now. As a tassa of seeds would cost 3d then the total loss would be about 5 tassas.
Also of course the ground has been made more compact and this will be harder to work.
Jan 3 1954 Court
A man stole a blanket from a Hausa. He is a Mambila. The blanket brought into court. He also stole some cornflour. He is from Mbamga. He admits his sin.
The Sarkin Hausa suggests that they go to thiefs house to see if there is any more stolen property there. Others agree.
He admits to having stolen a bottle, some cloth, a cup, a mat, one pan.
He has never been in prison before.
He also tried to bribe the Don Doka with 15 shillings to stop the case.
Court adjourned while they go to thiefs house.
They found a calf skin, one shoe, a kettle and 2 empty bags of salt that he had stolen. The calf skin was a calf that he had stolen and eaten and sold.
He is sentenced to 5 xxxx. Again decision of Tamnyar chief.
Jan 3 1954 Court decision regarding custody of children.
Main informant Chief of Tamnyar.
The give child to father, he also got all the bride price back.
If the man divorces the woman he gets nothing back. The children are usually given back.
The chief of Tamnyar says that they like the new fashion back.
The Audo says that if wife elopes you get all money and children. If you drive the woman you get the children but not the brideprice.
Dec 3rd Market
5 pieces of Tin were seen in the market for sale at 1/2 d. The bundles would be made up of about one xxx Tin tree.
Dec 3rd Farmer Grazier Dispute
The Mambila and Bororo of yesterday brought in. The Don Doka explains what he saw. The Bororo says that the farm does not go all the way to the water.
The Audo says that as the tin trees are still there, they should only pay 3 shillings. A few months ago as the tin trees were destroyed and only 5 shillings were paid.
Bevis
suggests £1-10 sh
Chief Tamnyar says that he should get 15 sh.
The Mambila man gets 15 sh and this is the end.
The Bororo man is neither fined nor imprsioned for breaking the law. They are not going to penalize him for breaking the law. This is the third time that he has spoiled the same man's farm.
Chief of Tamnyar says if first time that Bororo spoils farm he only pays damages. The second time he will pay big fine. The third time he will go to prison. They were not going to do anything
about this. They says that as the other case was last year they are going to forgive the Bororo man and not fine him.
The Mambila man says it cost him 7 sh to summons the man.
4 sh officially that is 2 sh for stick
2 sh for Don Doka to go see farm.
2 sh for man to go give stick to Bororo. He did not find him, so the man gave him 1 sh more to go back and get him.
Next case Mbamga people.
One woman is in the womens witness room. The woman ??separated?? a man. The man is old. The man exchanged her. The man says that if the court tells him to break exchange he would like to marry with money. The Tamnyar Chief says that the exchange is now broken, if they want to marry they can. The reason that the case came up is that the girls mother had told him that she shouldn't be exchanged. Even since she had been exchanged she had born no children that lived. Therefore she wanted to break exchange, but was willing to stay with her husband. The result is that the exchange is broken, but that she will stay with her husband and see if pickins are born.
Next case.
Adultery. The seducer from Tep the man whose wife was seduced is from Kila. The chief of Tep is here, but has drunk too much. The man from Tep agrees that he slept with the man {sic}.
The man from Tep agrees to pay £5 - 1 goat The woman will pay £3.
Next case.
A Mambila is accused of stealing a cow. When asked whether he will take sasswood he says yea. He says that he knows nothing about it.
The Mambila is from Mverrup.
They are going to try and arrange the chicken for the medicine. The Bororo does not answer when asked whether he believes in sasswood. Actually there are two accused one is young, one is Kassala of Mverrup.
Another case.
One man says his father gave another mans father some goats to keep. Now the lenders son wants them back. The other claims that he knows nothing of it. They tell defendant to get fowl for sasswood. Both are middle-aged. The defendant has very thin legs and does not seem to be able to control them very well. The defendant after going out decides that he doesn't want to take sasswood.
Another
The Bororo invovlved in farmer-grazier dispute has summoned another man. This is about a farm the Bororo claims is a watering place, the Mambila says it is not. They decide to send Chief of Mbamga and a Bororo to go see.
The case of the goats lent to defendants father. M Taffi had the case a long time ago and said that it was too long ago and that it could not be tried.
Jan 3rd Sasswood Palaver
There is a big discussion as to whether the Kassala of Mverup should take sasswood saying that no one had stolen the cow in Mverup. This was suggested by the Bororo cow owner. No one agreed including the Sarki Hausawa. It has been decided that only the accused will do so.
They stop on the road. The man takes elephant grass ties it in knot.
One small cup made of leaf.
A bit of water bought.
The medicine man says that he must have 2 shillings at once. It is given to him.
The chickens are about 2 months pullet. Two bought.
The defendant holds the fowl and the medicine man says for him to agree that he has not stolen. The man holds the chicken. The medicine man pours in a bit of the powder. Then he pours in water.
Only three small pinches of sasswood put in. Then water poured in through funnel.. The same done for Kassala's fowl. The they put in basket.
The sasswood had been put on small rock before using.
Today they used small fowls as they could not get bigger ones.
The Kassala had been accused of stealing as well as the younger man. We wait while the chickens are in the basket. When the man gives the medicine he says if man stole the cow the chicken must die. The defendant in both cases holds the chicken. Each one holds his own as the medicince is given.
The two chickens are brought back to the court.
The man who gave the medicine was around as he had been put in jail, pending payment of fine due to man with whose wife he had slept. He had only slept with her once, not very long ago.
Sometimes chickens die one time. Sometimes they last a long time. The chickens will be kept in the Wakiki of Mbamga's house tonight to see if they die. If they are not dead tomorrow in the morning it means the two are innocent. The defendants did not seem at all nervous when the sasswood given.
Jan 3rd. 1954 The Senior Man who stole the cow.
He admitted to me after case was over, under direct questioning that he had stolen the cow. He tried to hedge when I asked him why he wouldn't have chicken take sasswood.
Jan 3rd Adultery penalty.
A lot of oldish men standing outside the court after it was finished. I asked them what they thought about the large penalty in cases of money marriage. They all agreed that it was bad. They thought that it was a European rule. When I said it wasn't they said it should be changed.
Jan 3rd Adultery.
The man fined £5and 1 goat was told by the woman that she was not married when he slept with her. This however was not brought up in court. They feel that the law as set up is immutable and is not affected by circumstances. In this court one finds that they seem to take no interest in matters that caused the guilt. Guilt as such is punished irrespective of circumstances. They are not interested, nor do they investigate the circumstances.
Jan 4th Sasswood. Bororo-Mambila case.
Both chickens are alive but one is sick. The one who represents the Kassala is very sick. The Kassala is vexed when someone says that he is guilty as chicken is sick. He says that if he were guilty the chicken would have died yesterday.
One of the chickens is perfectly normal. The man whose chicken is normal seems to take it as a matter of course. He does not seem surprised. The Kassala seems surprised that his is ill, but claims that it has nothing to do with his guilt, because he says if he were guilty it would have died long ago.
The one that is strong thay gave back to the man who owns it. The sick one they give to the Wkiki to watch. If he dies, the Kassala is guilty.
The two defendants spent the night in their own town and came here early.
Later the chicken that was ill recovered. Case finished.
Jan 4th 1954 Court at Mbamga.
Only Joe
, Horatio
, and Chief of Tamnyar are here today.
A few cases are decided.
One case. Two cattle herders brought in. They had led their cows on a farm in which guinea corn had been there, but taken off. There were guords growing. The herders had been told not to bring cows there. They spoiled gourds and calabashes.
When a Mambila asked whether they were herders cows the Bororo started to strike the Mambila. He then pushed Mambila down.
Jan 4 th Salaries of court
Court clerk 30 sh
Panel 4 sh each
Don Doka £4-5sh.
Jan 4th Adultery
The Chief of Tamnyar admits that in the past they didn't pay big fines in case of seduction of money marriage. He says that they took the old law as applied to exchange marriages otherwise too many pickins would get sick.
In cases of rape of unmarried girls, the case can not go to court as it is not a crime. In this case there would be no pickins sick.
Chief of Tamnyar says that this law is necessary as otherwise seduction would be much greater problem, as people now travel much more due to Pax Britanica. The fine is production of chickens health more than a protection of the husband's rights.
The court keeps both the £5 and £3. The goat and anything else goes to the man. If the wife who has committed adultery goes back to the husband it is the husband who is responsible for the £3. If she goes to the adulterer he is responsible for the £3 as well as the £5. The £8 is a fine assessed by the court not damages to the husband.
The above explains why many of the cases do not come to court.
The goat is often used for making medicine.
Jan 4th Farmer Grazier dispute
The people come back from the farm where they went to see damage done.
This is the case brought this morning. The people all from Mbamga.
They say that 8 argusi spoiled. One calabash spoiled.
The fine from the Bororo £1. The Sarkin Hassawa said first he should say 10 sh, but Tamnyar said £1 fine so Sarkin Hassawa agreed.
The Mambila paid 3 sh for his argusi and 2 sh for costs that is a total of 5 sh. The Bororo says that he wont pay £1. They sentence him to 2 months. S. Hassawa says 1 month. Tamnyar says 2 months and it is agreed. They try to beg, but Tamnyar says no more noise. It is finished. The Chief of Tamnyar goes out.
The Sarkin Hassawa tries to make them pay £2 rather than prison. They say no, they are vexed and they say that they wont go to prison.
Now the Bororo says that he will pay £2. The Sarkin Hassawa has been trying to get him to pay. The Chief of Tamnyar says case finished, he must go to jail. The S.H. vexed but doesn't do anything.
Much palaver by all the neighbouring Fulanis. They lend the man £2.
S.H. says Makaddas and D.O. said that if man wants to pay £1 instead of going to jail he may, if the court agrees. The Chief of Tamnyar says as he was strong-head it is better that he go to prison, but if S.H. wants he can pay £2. The Bororo only offers £1. The Chief of Tamnyar refuses to take £1. He walks out and says they must go to Gembu.
Property that only big people can have.
Jan 4th 1954 John
says:
Only big people can have Shoa duas (large wooden masks) or wear the small horns that denote Tschuck and other medicines.
He says if others around then the big people would be vexed.
All other things any man can own.
Jan 4th Old people and witchcraft
There is an interesting duality in the way the young think of the old.
In some contexts they say that the big people cannot be witches. That is when they are thinking of them benevolently. However they often say, oh no! a young person can't do that a big person would witch him.
When confronted with the disparity they resort to the common "I don't know."
Of course they big people say that they are not witches and say that other big people are not. The latter they say without too much confidence.
Jan 5th Chief of Mbamga
Hamlets
Kassala
Nguni
Nuabon (Hamlet of R.H.)
Bandugo
Chiame
Badup
Madi
Mbara
Quanaso
Bal
Gela
Fubo
Ndalbon
Lebo
Chiria
Kushin
Kaldu
Furo
Mbouua
Bom
Djua
Division - those having the most people get most. Fubo, Bom and Mbar are same, Nguni and Bal are the same, Kushin, Badup, Lobo Furo, Bandugo
Each hamlet makes fence medicine. The fence medicine here made by chief and Gulgo first fence medicine. The hamlets women do not make bell medicine. here it is called Bell medicine as in Tiket. Called Su in Ndiel. Make it at different times. All the jujus come to Fubo, but not all go to the others. The reason that they don't all join except for Fubo is that the other days 2 or 3 hamlets do it on the same day.
Fubo starts all medicines. Titeng Mbashoa etc.
The chief is not native chief. There is not native chief.
List of European chiefs
Evelyn
Tip
Fenton
Dixon
He doesn't know after this
Tip bore Evelyn
- was exchange
Dixon
and Rennie
(Tip's father) had one father. Dixon
bore Fenton
. Dixon
married Tips mother but after she had bourne Tip Dixon
bore Fenton
with a different mother.
Rennie
was Be of Fenton
but Dim of Dixon
. When Dixon
died, Rennie
married Tip's mother.
He doesn't know whether Dixon
was first chief.
There are three wakilis. One is
Evelyn
sleeps Bandugo
Lancelot
sleeps Badup
Ged
sleeps Bom.
Allen
is not the chief's brother.
Oldest man of Mbamga they don't know.
Jan 5th 1954 Native court
Murder cases can not be judged here.
A man can say he doesn't want to come under the jurisdiction of the Ba court. Also Bororo men can appeal. Joe
says that the Alkali will back him.
Joe
says the Alkali will not reverse their judgements on damage and fines.
The Sarkin Haoussa who is a Fulani gets bribes and fights to protect Bororos and usually wins. The N.A. police who is sent to see the farms for the Gembu court is the one who sets valuation on the damages, but not here, where normally the Chief of Mbamga and the audo of Mbamga do it.
Two Mambilas in the area of this court's jurisdiction can not take case to Gembu court.
Bororo and Mambila cases must come here.
Two Bororo men go straight to Gembu.
Cash taken in by court.
Sept 1953 81/2/3
Oct 59/11/1
Nov 11/17/7
Dec 15/19/4
Jan 1954 so far about 5/14/0
The court collects about 10% of all debts collected through its offices. This is payed {sic} by the debtor as well as the summoning fee.
The court can only send man to jail for three months.
13 cases heard this session.
I am not at all clear on what cases can be appealed to Gembu. Joe
either does not know, or else doesn't know how to say. I believe that any Bororo - Mambila case can be. And though Joe
says the Alkali doesn't reject this courts' verdict, I dont believe it.
Jan 5 1954 Ron
on woman medicine.
Ron
says that he was given woman medicine, as his mother had it and had no daughters. She therefore gave it to him to make.
Jan 5th 1954 Exchange Marriage
John
says that the two male partners to the exchange must marry the sisters. One can not take the sister of another and use her for further exchanges. This he said would be like selling ones sisters. That is giving her to a man in return for his sister, but not for use by her.
Jan 5th Distances taken from Mbamga R.H. Book
Mbamga- Vokkude 9 miles
Mbamga- Tamnyar 8 miles
Mbamga- Gembu 9 miles
Mbamga- Bang 10 miles
People who have stayed at the R.H. since Jan 30th 1951
Du Boulay T.O.S.O. 12 nights
L.V. Morris Vet Off 1 night
Ahrens C.B.M.
D. Bradle T.O.S.O. 2 nights
Young Vet Off 1 night
Hamilton Vet Off 1 night
Goodman C.B.M.
? R.C.M.
E.O. Kelly Education
F.M.R.
Jan 4th 1954 Kassala of Nguni Allen
He is not the oldest man in Nguni. They made him Kassala because he can walk fine, and the oldest man can't.
He says that there are 5 memin. He says that there is only one Man as the big big father married 5 wives. All men of Nguni are brother. The big big father was Jeremiah
.
He doesn't know where the name Nguni comes from.
Jan 4th 1954 Mallam Taffi
Joe
says that M. Taffi's took plenty of bribes all the time that he was here. he took many bribes to kill farms. That is to demarcate certain areas as off-boundary for farming. The method used was him to apply pressure to the Mambila to give up his rights to the farm in return for a pittance. I hear to that often he wrote down on book and gave receipts to Bororo for killing farms when he kept all the money himself, and merely told the Mambila man that he couldn't farm them anymore.
Jan 4th 1954 School
The school in Mbamga is definitely opening.
This year they will have Infants I only. Next year Infants I and II. Whether it will go higher I don't know.
Jan 7th 1954 War
The Chief of War came to Mbamga. He can not hear Mambila talk. His talk is Kaka. However John
says that he is Mambila, and the people there are mostly Mambila, not Kaka.
The Chief says that many of the people are Mambila.
He says that he understand Yagi, but John
says that Yagi is Kaka.
Dec 7th Mbamga - Kassala
Moon rites - the Juju (wooden) ones come out 3 times. These three days only after planting corn, and when big man dies.
He doesn't know where Juju comes from.
He doesn't know where the mask comes from. He doesn't know who first to come to Mbamga. He doesn't know where fence medicine comes from.
He doesn't know how they learned to plant corn or guinea corn.
No women have big medicine.
>From Agriculture Officer Bamenda
Tephrosia vogelii - Yum tree or Tin trees
Pigeon peas are not Wulis, the agriculture officer says that he has not seen them. Pigeon peas are a bit like Tin.
Agriculture officer says that so far he has seen no millet.
The small things about 1.5 inches long, with brown skins and white interior are cocoyams.
Proper yams have yellow interiors.
6 proper yams cost 1d in Mbamga market. The 6 are about the size of european potatoes. These are already cooked.
Jan 8th 1954 Mbamga selling prices
A tassa of corn flower is sold here as in Warwar for 4d. But in Warwar it is as heaped as it can be. Here they do not heap it quite as high. Also they are not as likely to give a dash as at Warwar. in Warwar to a friend they will sell 3 pans for a shilling, but often give one as a dash.
I hear that in Gembu tassas are now sold for 5d. This is only unconfirmed rumour.
If there is plenty of raw corn in the market a heaped tassa cost 3d. If not very much they may sell it for 4d. This applies to Warwar Mbamga as mentioned above the raw corn is not quite so heaped.
Jan 8th Raw material
The large mats are made out of elephant grass.
The mats Nathan
makes are made of a leaf of a tree that gives palm wine. This is not the palm wine tree used by Mambila. The stalk of the leaves of the palm wine trees that are tapped in Warwar are used to make the fish traps.
The mans bag is made of a grass, but not elephant grass.
The womens baskets made of elephant grass.
Some Bel Yue's are made with elephant grass, some with the same grass used for mans bag.
Beer baskets are made in two layers. The inside is made of elephant grass. The outer layer of the basket is made with the bark of palm wine trees bamboos.
The leaves of the trees used to catch water are used only for making the small trap in the termite house.
Plantain & banana leaves used to cover termite houses and to cover the drying guinea corn if rain threatens. That is guinea corn cut and put out to dry.
The large bags carried by women in basket, used to carry corn flour etc. is made from the fibre in the palm wine tree leaves.
Beer baskets are rubbed on the outside with something like garden eggs but are not garden eggs.
Large large mats made of bark of plam wine tree bamboos.
Jan 8th1954 Spear shafts
The sticks are usually obtained from the Fr{ench} side but some people have started to grow them. A good strong one costs 6d. a weaker one 3d.
January 9 Bang R.H. Book
Distances
Bang to:
Tamnyar 8 miles E.
Tang (Bamenda) 8 miles S.W.
Barr 9 miles N.
Tagi 10 miles W.
First listed writer was 5/30/32
Next 8 all but one French
4 visits 32
2 in 33
Sieber first missionary 4.2.35 to 5.2.35 (Ndu-Titong)
Percival fist D.O. 3.2.35 to 5.2.35
Paul next D.O. 7-1-36 to 8-1-36
Paul Gebauer first time to Mayo Daga 1st Sept 36 to 2nd Sept 36
Paul Gebauer 2nd time 15 Jan 37 to 16 Jan 37
Percival 1-4-37 to 3-4-37
Schirmacher Field sect of German Baptist Mission 30-4-37 to 1-8-37
First Vet officer Coûlthard 12/6/38
Percival 30/12/38 to 1-1-39
G. Dunger Jan 5th 39 to 1/6/39
D.O. name illegible Sept 6, 7 39
D.O. name illegible April 21-23 1940
W.L. Cox D.O. 11-2-41 to 12/2/41
L. Blair ADO 29/4/42 - 30/4/42
L. Blair ADO 25/5/42 - 26/5/42
J.S. Synger D.O. 11/9/43 - 13/9/43
Blairfish D.O. 15/11/44 - 16/11/44
Blairfish D.O. 5/2/45 - 6/2/45
Plenty listed with only last names of D.O.
Mather 1950
De Boulay 1/2/51
Beadle 6/9/51
Rehfisch's handwritten index page to the typescript fieldnotes:
15 Alec
s marriage
14 Exchange Marriage
13 Gore
?'s wife
11-12 Baxter
's wedding
8-9 Simon
's marriage
3 Adultery
114-5 Baxter
's marriage
109 discussion between co-wives
108 marital relations
107 bridewealth
106 women!
104-5 Marriage according to Adrian
103 Marriage
102 John
on marriage
100-1 marriage
99 Introducing mother-in-law
96 Tschuk medicine for recent bride
88-9 bridewealth
87 marriage
89 Exchange marriage
4-6 Distances
79-84 marriage hunting
Beer given 425, 112 (by Frederick
's group) 1 dog 4 chickens 1 sheep one leg of cow.
Diary
Oct 2nd Charlie
went to Simon
rather unexpectedly was supposed to go tomorrow at noon but Clint
went to get her in the market.
Oct 4th Discussion of bridewealth with Nyap.
Sept 27th Nyap's full brother from French side came to Warwar.
Sept 13th Cadogan
wants new wife as present one old and cannot work.
Sept 7th Nathan
makes Shoa medicine for Clifford
. One of Brett
's wife left him as he flogged her. Had tried to take Clifford
's wife from him.
July 12. Clifford
paid 5 sh. for one pot of beer as he is trying to get a girl she had made the beer.
June 7th. Ultimate penalty for seduction if goats cannot be paid and family would not help was to be given as slave to offended groom.
March 4th Delivery of grass for roof.
Feb 24 Distances: Warwar to
Gembu 5-6 miles NW
Vokude 3 miles SW
Dorofi 10 miles SE
Tamnyar 16 miles S
Kara 9 miles N
Kabri 12 miles NE
Fieldnotes I - a lot on marriage to IX
p 72-75 Frederick
s Marriage history
Love medicine p 70
adultery p 36
Wife beating p 53-59
Marriage 33-4
Marital history 48
Rape 21
Widow inheritance 44
wife palaver 18
pregnancy taboo 38
Menstruation 18
______________
Colin
on chieftainship
Native chiefs. Most honoured one in Warwar is Rathbone
also one here called Gregory
.
European chief is chosen according to ability from ex-chief's immediate family, preferably a son or brother.
Native chief has many ritual duties therefore they do not want him to be European chief as well. He is very important religiously. Leopard must be given to him before it is cut up. Birds with red feathers on their head also. Cobra must be taken to chief as well as boa. One type of bush fowl also. Guinea fowl feathers can only be worn by people who have killed a leopard or plenty of people in war time.
Native chiefs used to have special chair and a cap with guinea fowl feathers as well as cockatoo feathers and have bush cow tai1 which they hold in their hand. (John
says that he doesn't know about cap).