Children of Yayoute


chief. From that day on he refused to lay eyes on Malice,
and when he mentioned the name "Malice", he spat to
show his scorn. He hated Malice so much that people wond-
ered why the sorcerer did not set a dreadful ouanga on
Malice.
 On Friday afternoon Malice passed by the bocor's place
and took a look at all the activities. Animals were being
killed, vegetables were being hauled in, big iron pots stood
on three stones each, with fires under them; women were
going to and from the spring for water, and men were
carrying dry wood to kindle the fires.
 'He despises me so, he won't have me at his feast. Well,
he won't have any banquet, for I'll see to it that no one
goes.)
 Malice went away and got a few friends and took them
to the crossroad which led to the market place and to the
spring. This crossroad was the only one which led to the
bocor's house. There the women put pots of food on the
fires, and passed the tafia. When Malice thought it was about
time the people should be coming by to go to the bocor's
dance, he had his men beat the drums, and the women sang
and danced. From then on all who were going or coming
to or from the market put their baskets down to join the
drinking, singing and dancing. It grew late, and parents
who had sent their children for water went after them
with a mind to scold. But when they arrived at the cross-
road they forgot all about scolding and joined the dancing.
Wives who lived far away heard the drums, left their
husbands' dinners burning to follow the tom-tom of Malice's
drums.