Niger

On the night of the 7th he reached the village of
Malla ; midday of the 8th he and his caravan
arrived at noon at the town of Kolor. Kolor was to
supply the English and several other European
languages with a new term of opprobrium of in¬
estimable value in the courtesies of political and
theological controversy. This was Mumbo Jumbo.
For outside Kolor Mungo gazed in considerable
puzzlement upon a ‘ sort of masquerade habit ’
made from the tree-bark, and hanging up empty
awaiting further employment. Questioning his
companions, he was told the uses and purposes of
the suit. It was used by the unchivalrous Mandingo
for keeping their consorts in good order and morale.
Most Mandingoes of any pretence to social rank had
more than one wife. Genteelly, Mungo observed
that the ladies are bound frequently to disagree
among themselves and disturb the peace of their
lord, and, possibly, his bed. So the wily Mandingo
had invented the ritual of Mumbo Jumbo in prefer¬
ence to the divorce court.
The outraged husband, or an agent, would hie
himself off to the forest near his village or town,
garb himself in the bark-robes of Mumbo Jumbo,
and wait till the fall of night. With the coming of
dark the natives would hear a dismal howling rise
from the depths of the trees. Then Mumbo Jumbo
himself would be seen entering the town, and making
for the town bentang. This was a large platform of
interwoven canes built round the central tree of the
village plaza, and used as the town hall and lounging-
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