Sachgebiete

Beschreibung:

VII; 198 S.; Illustrationen; 30,5 cm; fadengeh. Orig.-Pappband.

Bemerkung:

Ein gutes Ex.; Einband etwas berieben u. nachgedunkelt. - Englisch. - It is a little more than fifteen years since I undertook the edition of Karl Laman's copious notes from his many years among the Sundi. With the completion of his fourth volume, Laman's work has now in its entirety been made available to international research. I have of course been faithful to the original manuscript, although obvious inexactitudes have when necessary been corrected. For this I am greatly indebted to Dr. Efraim Andersson, sometime professor of Religious History, who has proved himself an unfailing source of help in solving the problems that presented themselves throughout the years since I embarked in the publication of Laman's work. I am also grateful to Mr. Harald Faith-Ell who has again undertaken the illustrations, and to Mrs. Catherine G. Sundstrom who has translated the manuscript with her usual skill. ... (Vorwort S. Lagercrantz) // INHALT : Preface ----- I Mnemonics, Symbols and Signs ----- II Language ----- III Arithmetic ----- IV Games ----- V Neighbouring Tribes ----- VI Conceptions of the Universe ----- VII Heavenly Bodies ----- VIII The Human Body ----- IX Portents ----- X Proverbs ----- XI Art ----- XII Dance ----- XIII Song and Music ----- XIV Tales. // ... The ntoyo bird not only announces the approach of the kyanza season, but also predicts many deaths in the community. For that reason it is also known as the bird of the dead. Like many other birds, it also announces the approach of the new moon. When the raven scours the villages, the ntombo season is near. When the kinsengwa bird turns red, the ndoolo season is coming. This season is heralded by several other signs, such as the fruit of the ngyengye turning yellow, the ripening of the beans, or the nsokya grass and ngudi a boola setting ears. Pelicans passing by in the sky herald the approach of the sivu dry season. When the dogs start pairing, the kyanza season is near. The mbambi lizard announces that the ndoolo season is near and that several trees, such as the ngyengye, mango, and mpiwa, are about to bear fruit. When the mbungu za mputu beetles swarm over the flowers of the wormwood, the dry season is approaching. Similarly, a swarm of nkenge a nkala beetles on the wormwood or pea flowers announces the coming of this season. When driver ants invade the houses to look for food, the ndoolo season is not far off. Someone who dreams that driver ants are swarming over his legs or body will be afflicted by a disease with open sores. His limbs will start aching, and he "will not recover from his illness until a whole season, or even up to two years have passed. It is clearly an extremely nasty dream to have. Clusters of mamene-mene flies on people's legs, and the appearance of common flies mean that the ntombo season is approaching. Funza has various signs to reveal future events. Trees, grasses, flowers, fruit, and corn in the ear are all heralds of specific seasons. When the palms see that the beans are ripening, they postpone forming male flowers, signifying that the kyanza season has come with its palm-wine. When the pineapple ripens, the time has also come for the malombo fruit to ripen. When the mfuma, mutele, or mfyolongo trees start sprouting green leaves, the ntombo season is near. Matyokula birds announce the coming of the dawn, and of noontime when the palm-wine has to be tapped. The call of the matyokula is the signal for the palm-wine tappers to grab their climbing-slings and set to work. The bird also sings just before sundown. A cluster of many stars (the Pleiads) predicts an abundance of peanuts for that season. In the old days, when a whirlwind set a grass fire going at tremendous speed, it was said: "This fire will burn a house, or claim a human victim". Twitches in various parts of the body can indicate a number of different things. Intermittent twitching of the eyelids, for instance, predicts a death, sorrow, and weeping. Twitches in the skin by the eyebrows signify a death; if it is on the left side, it means that a grown woman will die. A twitching upper lip is a sign that food will be forthcoming, either through hunting or fishing, or from a friend. Twitches in the shoulder predict the arrival of someone carrying a bag over his shoulder with meat to eat. Twitches in the buttocks predict good luck in hunting. It may also mean that one will be attending a law case. ? (Seite 46)