Chapter I: Constitution of Native African Society--Sociology 1

I. The Country 2

II. The Family 3

Family Responsibility.--Family Headship.--Marital
Relations.--Arrangements for Marriage.--Courtship and
Wedding.--Dissolution of Marriage.--Illegitimate Marital
Relations.--Domestic Life.

III. Succession to Property and Authority 13

IV. Political Organization 13

V. Servants 14

VI. Kingship 15

VII. Fetich Doctors 16

VIII. Hospitality 17

IX. Judicial System 17

Courts.--Punishment.--Blood-Atonement and Fines.--
Punishable Acts.

X. Territorial Relations 22

Tenure.--Rights in Movables.

XI. Exchange Relations 23

XII. Religion 25

CHAPTER II

THE IDEA OF GOD--RELIGION 26

Theology, Religion, Creed, Worship.--Source of the Knowledge
of God; outside of us; comes from God; Evolution of Physical
Species.--Materialism; Knowledge of God not evolved.--
Superstition in all Religions.--Dominant in African
Religion.--No People without a Knowledge of at least the Name
of God.--Testimony of Travellers and Others.

CHAPTER III

POLYTHEISM--IDOLATRY 42

Religion and Civilization.--Worship of Natural Objects.--
Polytheism.--Idolatry.--Worship of Ancestors.--Fetichism.

CHAPTER IV

SPIRITUAL BEINGS IN AFRICAN RELIGION 50

I. Origin 50

Coterminous with the Creator.--Created.--Spirits of
Deceased Human Beings; in Unity, Duality, Trinity, or
Quadruplicity.

II. Number 55

III. Locality 58

IV. Characteristics 62

CHAPTER V

SPIRITUAL BEINGS IN AFRICA--THEIR CLASSES AND FUNCTIONS 64

I. Classes and Functions 64

Inina.--Ibambo.--Ombwiri.--Nkinda.--Mondi.

II. Special Manifestations 70

Human Soul in a Lower Animal; the Leopard Fiend.--Uvengwa,
Ghost.--Family Guardian-Spirit.

CHAPTER VI

FETICHISM--ITS PHILOSOPHY--A PHYSICAL SALVATION--CHARMS AND
AMULETS 75

Monotheism.--Polytheism.--Animism.--Fetichism.

The Salvation Sought: its Kind, Physical; its Source, Spirits;
its Reason, Fear.

The Means used: Prayer, Sacrifices, Charms; Vocal, Ritual,
Material, Fetiches.

Articles used in the Fetich.--Mode of Preparation: A Fitness in
the Quality of the Object for the End desired; Efficiency
depends on the Localized Spirit; Misuse of the Word "Medicine";
Native "Doctors"; Connection of Fetich with Witchcraft.

CHAPTER VII

THE FETICH--A WORSHIP 90

I. Sacrifice and Offerings 91

Small Votive Gifts.--Consecrated Plants; Idols and Gifts
of Food.--Blood Sacrifices.--Human Sacrifices.

II. Prayer 97

III. The Use of Charms or "Fetiches" 99

CHAPTER VIII

THE FETICH--WITCHCRAFT--A WHITE ART--SORCERY 100

A passively Defensive Art.--Professedly of the Nature of a
Medicine.--Distinction between a Fetich Doctor and a Christian
Physician.--Manner of Performance of the White Art.--The
Medicinal Herbs used sometimes Valuable.--Strength of Native
Faith in the System.

CHAPTER IX

THE FETICH--WITCHCRAFT--A BLACK ART--DEMONOLOGY 116

Distinction as to the Object aimed at in the White Art and in
the Black Art.--Black Art actively Offensive.--The Black Art
distinctively "Witchcraft."--Witchcraft Executions; claimed
to be Judicial Acts.--Hoodoo Worship.--Christian Faith and
Fetich Faith Compared.--Deception by Fetich Magicians.--
Clairvoyance.--Demoniacal Possession.

CHAPTER X

FETICHISM--A GOVERNMENT 138

Egbo, Ukuku, Yasi, and other Societies.--Their Power either
to protect or oppress.--Contest with Ukuku at Benita, and
with Yasi on the Ogowe.

CHAPTER XI

THE FETICH--ITS RELATION TO THE FAMILY 156

The Family the Unit in the African Community.--Respect for
the Aged.--Worship of Ancestors.--Family Fetiches; Yâkâ,
Ekongi, Mbati.

CHAPTER XII

THE FETICH--ITS RELATIONS TO DAILY WORK AND OCCUPATIONS AND TO
THE NEEDS OF LIFE 172

Hunting.--Journeying.--Warring.--Trading; Okundu and
Mbumbu.--Sickness.--Loving.--Fishing.--Planting.

CHAPTER XIII

THE FETICH--SUPERSTITION IN CUSTOMS 191

Rules of Pregnancy.--Omens on Journeys.--Leopard Fiends.--
Luck.--Twins.--Customs of Speech.--Oaths.--Totem Worship.--
Taboo; Orunda.--Baptism.--Spitting.--Notice of Children.

CHAPTER XIV

FETICH--ITS RELATION TO THE FUTURE LIFE--CEREMONIES AT DEATHS
AND FUNERALS 215

Sickness, Death, Burial, Modes of Burial.--Mourning,
Treatment of Widows.--Witchcraft Investigations.--Places of
Burial.--Cannibalism--Family Quarrel as to Precedence in the
Burying.--Custom of "Lifting Up" of Mourners.--Ukuku Dance
for Amusement.--Destination of the Dead.--Transmigration.

CHAPTER XV

FETICHISM--SOME OF ITS PRACTICAL EFFECTS 239

Depopulation.--Cannibalism.--Secret Societies (Ukuku, Yasi,
Mwetyi, Bweti, Indâ, Njembe).--Poisoning for Revenge.--
Distrust.--Jugglery.--Treatment of Lunatics.--The American
Negro Hoodoo.--Folk-Lore.