[ The Maramba Fetish. ] 246
Morumba247 is thirty leagues northwards from hence, in the Mani Loango’s dominions, where he [Battell] lived nine months. There is a house, and in it a great basket, proportioned like to a hive, wherein is an image called Morumba, whose religion extendeth far. They are sworn to this religion at ten or twelve years old; but, for probation are first put in a house, where they have hard diet, and must be mute for nine or ten days, any provocation to speak notwithstanding. Then do they bring him before Morumba, and prescribe him his Kin [kina], or perpetual abstinence from some certain meat. They make a cut in his shoulder like to a half moon, and sprinkle the blood at Morumba’s feet, and swear him to that religion. In the wound they put a certain white powder in token of his late admission; which, so long as it continueth, doth privilege him to take his meat and drink with whomsoever he pleaseth, none denying him the same, at free cost.
They also have their fatal trials before this image, where the accused party, kneeling down and clasping the hive, saith: “Mene quesa cabamba Morumba,” signifying that he comes thither to make trial of his innocence;248 and if he be guilty he falls down dead; being free he is free’d.
Andrew Battell saith he knew six or seven, in his being there, that made this trial.