Bantu folk lore (medical and general) / by Matthew L. Hewat, M.D.

  • Hewat, Matthew L.
Date:
[1906]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Bantu folk lore (medical and general) / by Matthew L. Hewat, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    warned off. This was the inhospitable state of affairs till the Amagqira had done their duty and driven off the lightning. The natives say the lightning is really a bird which they call “Impundulu” or the lightning bird. This bird appears as such only to women ; but as lightning it darts down and lays a big egg, where it strikes, which eggs bring ill-luck to the neighbourhood where it is laid. The only way to circumvent the bird, is to stand ready with a kerrie (club) and hit right through the flash. (Putting salt on its tail in fact). Needless to say that no one has ever succeeded in killing one yet. The Isanusi is supposed to dig for this egg in order to destroy it, but so far none has been demonstrated to the common public. Great hopes are enter- tained for the future ! The possession of the egg would bring great good fortune to the possessor. In olden times the “ doctor ” was a really clever man in many cases, would come and do work for a bull, cow, or even heifer ; but now the “Doctors ” have sadly deteriorated, and first his fee of a bottle of brandy, three shillings,