If You Killed One Without Permission Your
Punishment Would Perhaps Be Greater Than If You Had Killed A Man.
If a bullock becomes ill on the road, the driver will, with his
knife, cut all around the sod where the animal has left its
footprint.
Lifting this out, he will cut a cross on it and replace it
the other side uppermost. This cure is most implicitly believed in
and practised.
[Illustration]
The making of the cross is supposed to do great wonders, which your
guide is never tired of recounting while he drinks his mate in the
unbroken stillness of the evening. Alas! the many bleaching bones on
the road testify that this, and a hundred other such remedies, are
not always effectual, but the mind of the native is so full of
superstitious faith that the testimony of his own eyes will not
convince him of the absurdity of his belief. As he stoops over the
fire you will notice on his breast some trinket or relic - anything
will do if blessed by the priest - and that, he assures you, will save
him from every unknown and unseen danger in his land voyage. The
priest has said it, and he rests satisfied that no lightning stroke
will fell him, no lurking panther pounce upon him, nor will he die of
thirst or any other evil. I have remarked men of the most cruel,
cutthroat description wearing these treasures with zealous care,
especially one, of whom it was said that he had killed two wives.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 41 of 313
Words from 10902 to 11157
of 83353
