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father, look, and you'll laugh to see How he gapes and stares, with his eyes on thee!” When anyone is drowned these Africans offer sacrifices to the water spirits—corn or an animal—which are thrown into the water with incantations; but, if the priests permit, the water is stoned and violently abused, Sometimes they say “the river has called” the drowning one, and no one will a ist him, but all stand silent to watch him perish, Our courts, however, sometimes interfere, and two men recently received, much to their surprise, sentence of hard labour for such conduct, The civilisation and religion of such tribes as the Dingas and Golos, is representative of the savage ideas of negroes near the Bahral-Ghazil —as lightly touched on by Mr Cummins (see Lord Cromer’s Egtn Report, 1903, London Standard, April 13th). The Dinga god is called Deng-dit; they (like early Hebrews) are still in the animistic stage (see Animism), which Golos have given up. ‘The Dinga devil (Abok) was the seductive grandchild of the great spirit, or principle, of evil called L'wal, and became the consort of the creator Deng-dit. She received from him a bowl of fat from which to mould mankind (as Yahveh moulded man “ out of the dust”); but carele ly left it unguarded, when L'wal seized the fat, and created caricatures _ of Dinga and Abok’s creatures.” [So Set in Egypt made evil beasts and plants from his sweat.— Ep.] Such doctrines are found in various African faiths, though ideas of immortality are as confe edly vague as in other religions. But the use of sacrifices is imperative, especially for pricsts—who have to live on them. The Golos kill twenty chickens at one rite, cooking nineteen to eat, and throwing one only to their deity: this, priests taught to be a “high communion and spiritual function "—a bloody atonement. As to prayer the priests are left to do as they think best; and “immortality” troubles the tribe as little as it does educated Europe. As in India, the Africans worship road-side karns under the name Sivi-vane, praying, like Sivaites of India, for strength and prosperity—Siva’s special gifts, Saliva is a potent charm in the hands of wizards (see Salt); none will spit in or near a house, and they hasten to conceal spittle, lest a wizard should see it, and mix it in his decoctions. It is briny in substance, like sea water, and a powerful healer, confirming strength and valour, Women in general render unclean all that they touch or step over. They must on no account enter a cattle-fold, or interfere with cattle, food, or milk. The faith of Islam has spread over the whole of the vast continent with the Arabs; but it has made little impre ion on the old faith, as Dr Felkin showed, on his return from Darfair and El 'Obeid (see Proc, Rl. Socy., Edin,, 1885), Though nominally Islam is these Africans are entirely ruled by their pagis, or priests, who have learned a line or two of the Koran. They say men only—not women or animals—have souls called Kilwa or “ power of the liver”: these are _ strengthened by eating the livers of beasts: no woman may touch the liver, and men only with pointed sticks. The old name molw for “God” [see the Bechuana molimo for “ spirit,” “ ghost,” or “deity.” — Ep,] is still used, though Allah is acknowledged, but rather confounded _ with the Sharif of Makka, and regarded as a fat, lazy person. To go to Makka, however, is to “ go to Allah,” making a man very holy, and an “arch-barr.” To go to Molu, is to go to Jouel (“sky”) and to _ great happine ; but the wicked go to Uddw (“hell”), and are finally burnt up. The kilm or “soul” never returns, but the ghost (malal) _ is much dreaded, and long remains near its body. The dead finally tise in some distant country, marrying and living much as here on earth, Molu is still occasionally worshiped in his old stone 32 y Ag houses, and cells or chapels; and a kind of kingfisher is thought to contain his spirit. The old animism is to be seen in the belief in Zittan, or spirits, who act under the great spirit of Gebel Marah, Like eastern nats these spirits delight in gloomy trees; and tree cult is prominent throughout Africa. Most tribes bury the dead; and African cemeteries are full of strange relics, and quaint charms, often scattered over a great extent of bare hilly wilderne . 65