File:A cyclopedia of missions - containing a comprehensive view of missionary operations throughout the world - with geographical descriptions, and accounts of the social, moral, and religious condition of (14740224136).jpg

Identifier: cyclopediaofmiss00newc (find matches)
Title: A cyclopedia of missions : containing a comprehensive view of missionary operations throughout the world : with geographical descriptions, and accounts of the social, moral, and religious condition of the people
Year: 1855 (1850s)
Authors: Newcomb, Harvey, 1803-1863
Subjects: Missions
Publisher: New York : Scribner
Contributing Library: Princeton Theological Seminary Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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speaking, is littleless than a charm, amulet, or talisman, wornabout the body, or suspended from some partof the dwelling, and is intended either toguard the owner from some apprehended evil,or to secure for him some coveted good. Onsome parts of the coast it is called a grigri,(greegree.) at other places, a juju, (jewjew.)and others still, afdixh, all implying the samething. It may bo a piece of wood, in theform of an ornament, the horn of a goat orsheep, a piece of metal or ivory, or any thingelse that has been consecrated by one of thepriests. There are several classes of these fe-tishes, for which they have separate names:those worn about their persons ; such as arcsuspended over the doors, and in different ))artsof their dwellings, corresponding somewhat tothe penatcs of the ancient Koinans : such asmay be found along their hJLihways. to))rotccttheir farms and fruit trees from dejjredation ;such as are used in war; and finally, such asbelong to the town and are kept in a house at
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AFRICA, WESTERN. 61 the entrance of tlie village, or at the residenceof the chief. The fetishes are supposed to possess extra-ordinary and varied powers. They preservethe life and health of one who uses them, andguard not only from visible evils, but from thesecret machinations of witchcraft, so muchdreaded by the simple-minded African. Thefetish is also supposed to be able to protect itselfagainst violence; which power the superstitiouspeople are afraid to test. If the fetish fails, in agiven instance, it only proves that this particu-lar one has no eflicacy, and it is thrown away fora better one ; but every one is considered effec-tive till experience has proved the contrary.And, if nine out of ten fail, the success of the oneis balanced against the failure of the nine, andthe successful one is the more valued. They talkto their fetishes, try to stir them up to action mgreat emergencies, pour rum upon them, and actas if they supposed they possessed life and intel-lio-ence : but in n

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