Negombo, Negosi, and Nepindi

Negombo, Negosi, and Nepindi are the names by which the African negroes of Congo, Angola, etc., designate three of their priests.

1. The Negombo is looked upon both as a priest and a prophet. He not only professes to foretell future events, but he ascribes to himself likewise an innate virtue of healing all manner of diseases. He is always sufficiently provided with a vast variety of medicaments, the virtues whereof are so deeply impressed on the minds of the negroes that the failure of Negombo's prescriptions is always imputed to the patient.

2. The Negosi must take to himself eleven wives, and, as is usual among African tribes, he also acts the part of a magician. When any native meditates revenge upon an enemy, he applies to the Negosi, who cuts off some locks of his hair, and, binding them together, throws them into the fire, uttering all the while various imprecations on the enemy, and all his possessions and kin.

3. The Nepindi styles himself master of the elements, and pretends to control thunder, lightning, and storms. To manifest his power, he raises large heaps of earth contiguous to his habitation. After he has finished the usual sacrifices and magical operations, a little animal, they say, creeps out from the foot of one of these, which raises itself by slow degrees, and at last takes its flight towards the heavens. Then thick clouds darken the skies, and thunder, lightning, and rain immediately ensues. See Cavazzi, Ittor. descrizione de Congo, etc.