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