WANTOHO CUSTOMS. 47 Superstition prevails to a great extent, and the Wanyoro have also a firm belief in the evil eye.

Amulets are worn extensively to ward off illness, wounds, and death, even cattle often having charms tied round their necks ; these amulets are usually roots, different trees and plants being used to keep off the various evils which the wearers dread. A Manyoro will never return by the way he goes. The Wanyoro appear to have no belief in a future state.

Trial by augury is one of their customs ; fowls are used for this purpose, being cut up alive by the medicine men, whose decision is given according to the colour of the intestines. If one man charges another with a crime which he denies, both drink a decoction of herbs, and whoever becomes drowsy is considered the delinquent. I do not know the plant used, having unfortunately lost the specimen which was given to me. The village chiefs are in all cases the judges of minor offences, only very flagrant crimes being taken to the district chiefs. Such orderly administration of justice as one finds in Uganda is wanting in Unyoro.

Medicine men and women often travel about the country, gaily dressed with bead ornaments and numbers of charms. They resemble the gipsies, having no fixed dwelling, but making themselves at home wherever they may be. They practise incantations to drive away the evil spirits which are supposed to have taken up their abode in sick