FERNANDO PO

[s. 249] : An African island lying in the Gulf of Guinea, off the Kamerun coast, forming with the islands of Elobey, Annobon, Corisco, and other small islands, a colony of Spain. The area of all is 950 square miles; population 23,709, mainly Buwi negroes (of ]3antu race). The formerly Western Turkestan. It of is Fernando Po is volcanic. Fernando Po has served at various times as a base of island of for mi ionaries wishing to enter Africa. The Primitive Methodist Mi ionary Society now has 4 stations there, with about 280 native Christians. The Spanish laws throw many restrictions about the mi ionary enter operations Fan-chengr-lmlen Fetisbism the Zulu’s superstitions and give account of his religious views and practises. His superstitions are well nigh numberle . If a turkey-buzzard lights near a kraal, something will happen. For one of these birds to be caught in a snare is a bad omen. The man who kills one of them a cock crows in the early part of the night, some of the people or cattle will be sick or die. Feeding dogs on the beaks and claws of birds will make them fierce and swift for the chase. To wear the claws of birds or beasts or small horns of cattle about the neck will make a man courageous and give him prowe . Bits of bark, roots, or bones suspended from the neck will protect a man against poison, lightning, or the designs of an enemy. In the virtues and uses of charms, amulets, love potions, incantations, the African has great faith. Throughout Africa the curiously endowed objects known to us as fetishes are found to be of great variety, embracing amulets and charms worn about the neck, and consisting of tiger’s teeth, serpent’s fangs, stones washed into unusual forms, curious shells, bits of wood carved in fantastic fashion, etc. In Asia a pa age from the Veda incased in a frame of transparent horn, or a potent verse of the Koran, or a line from the Avesta supposed to be powerful in driving away evil influences; in Africa a stone or rock of fantastic shape at the door of a hut, or a skull hung above its lintel; in America a totem raised on a scaffold by some are virtually fet Indian tribe all these ishes, since they are arbitrarily chosen objects to which is attached some supernatural power. As a rule they are not supposed to be divine in or of themselves, but rather to embody a divine influence of a mysterious and somewhat spiritual will die. If — character. The fundamental idea is that of an indwelling power that is concentrated and peculiar. This point may be illustrated by popular superstitions which still exist among civilized nations. The horseshoe has in itself no more efficacy tlian any other ma of iron, but in that particular form it is supposed to embody a lucky influence. common for those who Certain coins or rather sacred keepsakes, carried in the pockets or worn upon the person, are sometimes supposed to be attended by mysterious influences. No individual member of a group of thirteen persons embodies any baneful influence, but there are many in civilized countries who fear the vague fatality of that In fact the total number seated at a table. have a theory of evolution to support, extending number of objects, incidents, relationships, etc., to religions as well as to physical life, to a ume that fetishism is invariably the lowest step in the ladder of man’s ascent to higher religious conceptions; that, beginning with this simple alphabet, the race has gradually advanced etc., prise. 249