p.

"__ spirits"

their characteristics

11

animal

"These creatures do not like the light and dwell in caves, forests, or mountains ... a snake might change into many different colors and have no end to its length."

12

"Sometimes a woman who is experiencing difficulties conceiving a child may visit the spirit’s site to offer porridge, kola nuts, ... to the animal. A person may make a sacrifice of an animal to secure a husband or wife."

12-3

"family" (clan)

protective animal-spirit

12

Diara

lion

Cisse`

snake species

Niare`

" "

Drame`

" "

Doukoure`

" "

Traore`

crocodile species

Mariko

" "

Samake`

elephant

13

Couloubaly

catfish

bush

"We access these spirits through divination, visitation, or music. They especially enjoy bright colors and large gatherings of people. ... Bush spirits ... enjoy eating food that was cooked the day before."

15

crossroads

"We also break eggs at an intersection when we experience challenges in our lives. One must not look back afterward, or the offering will not work."

16

"Women dance moribiassa at the crossroads to petition this divinity for the healing of a loved one who is ... experiencing mental challenges. They will wear men’s clothes as they dance this rhythm, and then leave the clothes behind as an offering."

dwarf

"They like the full moon ... and usually roam about during this magical time. ... They enjoy eating couscous, so we often sprinkle hot sauce on top of this dish so that they will not eat this food that we leave out for our ancestors. ... We know them by their

17

We say that the one who obtains the calabash of a dwarf spirit will never be poor. Like the magic lamp of a genie, the spirit of this magic calabash will grant any wish to its possessor."

18

human

"W e say they have eyes in the backs of their heads as they can see everything around them. ... Those of us who can see them, see them walking on their heads. ... Those of us who feel attacked by such spirits burn cotton seeds, frankincense, and kunje` (Guiera senegalensis) together and inhale the fumes."

p.

incumbent

sanctity

33

bard ["griot, or jeli/jali in Mande" (p. 173, n. 3:2)]

"the power of the words from the mouth of a bard can split open a door or make the leaves fall off a tree."

34

blacksmith

"The ancestor of our blacksmiths was close to the spirit of fire." ["The divine ancestor of all blacksmiths ... is Ndomayiri" (p. 174, n. 3:3)]

35

"A woman who has experienced a challenging childbirth will wear an iron necklace with a tiny pair of smith tongs as a pendant for future births."

36

hunter

"will wear powerful clothing ... a sacred garment ... for protection and identification ... with ... sacred symbols on the fabric".

37

"Sane`ne` and Kontron are two popular spirits that our hunters often invoke for their help and protection in the wilderness. Sane`ne` and Kontron are feminine and masculine spirits".

sign

its signification

Y

male

upsidedown Y

female

X with vertical line through its middle

universe

X with horizontal line through its middle

death

symmetric cross

4 cardinal directions

lozenge

water; "procreative fluids"

O

rain; tears

V

"Spirit"

p.

animal

its function

61

ant

"A visit from an army of ants ... is

62

an obvious sign from the spirits that we need to ... leave an offering inside an anthill."

bee

"Beehives near our homes ... serve to ward away illness."

bird

"Pigeons ... will ... utter three cries, three days in advance, to foretell the coming of a visitor."

buffalo

"If a buffalo stares a hunter in the eyes ... it ... can ... kill the hunter."

63

chameleon

"We make use of chameleons in our charms to disguise ourselves".

deer

"We do not kill the deer if it stands on its hind legs."

64

hound

"Dogs see spirits and may scare them off when they bark. Protective divinities may shy away from a home with a dog."

gazelle

"Gazelles are artful and cunning, the source ... residing in their livers."

65

goats

"We sometimes feed them beer".

hyaena

"we place inside some of our talismans and protective charms ... hyena’s intestines ... We wrap many of our amulets with their skins ... We give the tail of a hyena ... to those who cross over [die] when away from their village, to help them return home for their burial. ... The hyena ... has the power to make itself invisible."

lion

"If salt touches a lion’s body within one’s home, the inhabitants of the house risk ... being prepped for consumption". {[Hellenic] /leon/ ‘lion’ is cognate with [Samskr.ta] /lavana/ ‘salt’.}

66

lizard

"The symbol of a water lizard engraved on a house protects it from thieves. {Hermes, god of thieves (GTh), was outwitted by Apollon the sauro-ktonos (‘lizard-slayer’) (AS).} Sometimes we hang the head above the door to the entrance of our home."

owl

"Owls are mystical birds that often carry messages for us about death ... and warnings to opposing warriors in times of battle." {Athene, goddess of the owl, is also a warrioress.}

porcupine

"We sometimes braid our hair using porcupine spines."

rabbit

"we often display images of them on our homes to protect ... from uninvited guests. The rabbit ... appears as a jester in many of our stories."

67

snake

"We wear the bones of serpents around the waist as a cure for backaches. ... We use the fat of the boa to place inside the ear to cure earaches."

toad

"Toads are exceptional ... with the ability to transform themselves into other creatures".

68

tortoise

"The tortoise is often a trickster in our tales".

vulture

"They shed their feathers every hundred years to be reborn."

p.

elemental

175, n. 6:1

"The feminine divinity Nyale` ... represents the spirit of ... fire in Bamana cosmology. Teliko is the masculine divinity ... of whirlwinds, in Bamana cosmology."

175, n. 6:3

"The Bamana spirit of the water is Faro. ... Faro is often represented as a mermaid, with long hair, breasts, and a tail. Faro prefers sacrifices of white objects, copper, and tomatoes".

p.

dreams of __

portend __

76

having money

financial challenges ahead

tears & pain

great happiness awaiting

77

parties, festivities

unfavorable

blood or accidents

peace

death

long life

climbing a tree, or flying high in the air

blessings & longevity

dipping one’s head in the ocean

money to come

rain

auspicious

tooth falling out

impending misfortune

dead fish

illness & misfortune

eggs

betrayal

snakes

future praegnancy

snake biting the back

future birth of boy

snake biting the front

future birth of girl

p.

bodily member

portent

77

right foot

new shoes {African shoes are "curved" (DAM, p. 94)

left foot

travel

right hand

spend money

left hand

receive money

inside of hand

will occur soon

outside of middle of hand

will occur, but not immediately

right eye

will see something from the past

left eye

will see something not seen before

right ear

something favorable

77-8

left ear

something one would not with to hear

78

nose

loved one experiencing hardship or death

right cheek

troubles subsiding

left cheek

caution of false blame

p.

action

79

"If we want to remember something we are being told, we tell it to our little finger and the information will be available for us to access at any time". {"The little finger is thought of as the revealer of hidden information" (FO5). "a variant name for this finger /auricular/ is /oricular/ (DMS, p. 103b) : Latin /oricularius/, similar to /oracularius/ ‘oracular’. }

"If we do not want someone to remember something ..., we place our right toe into the ground."

80

"We do not count our children or say the number of them aloud. ...

Nor do we count ... things of value aloud as the spirits may desire to have them for themselves."

"If the rooster crows during off-hours, ... it is a sign not to travel.

The sight of a rabbit can be auspicious".

from right to left somewhat favorable.

If the animal runs in the opposite direction of one’s travel, this could be a sign to cancel the trip.

Some among us believe one must begin one’s journey with the left foot first."