[24] Stanley: _In Darkest Africa_, vol. ii, p. 400.
This observer shows that he does not know the true meaning of the word religion; the example that he gives demonstrates the fact that these negroes _do_ have religious feeling. The simple act of offering propitiatory gifts to the "evil influence" is, from the very nature of the deed, a religious observance. Furthermore, these savages have charms and fetiches innumerable, which, in my opinion, are relics of nature-worship. The miniature house mentioned by Stanley is common to the majority of the equatorial tribes, and seems to be a kind of common fetich; _i. e._, one that is enjoyed by the entire tribe. It is mentioned by Du Chaillu, Chaillé Long, Stanley, and many others.[25]
[25] Du Chaillu: _Equatorial Africa_; Chaillé Long: _Naked Truths of Naked People_; Stanley: _In Darkest Africa_.
Du Chaillu tells of one tribe, the Bakalai, in which the women worship a particular divinity named Njambai.[26] This writer is even more inexact than Stanley, hence, we get very little scientific data from his voluminous works. From what he says of Njambai,[F] I am inclined to believe that he is a negro Priapus; this, however, is a conjectural belief and has no scientific warrant.
[26] Du Chaillu: _Equatorial Africa_, p. 240.
[F] Possibly, this god is the same as the god mentioned by Livingstone, Baker, and Stanley.
The Tucuña Indians of the Amazon Valley, who resemble the Passés, Jurís, and Muahés in physical appearance and customs, social and otherwise, are devil-worshipers. They are very much afraid of the _Jupari_, or devil, who seems to be "simply a mischievous imp, who is at the bottom of all those mishaps of their daily life, the causes of which are not very immediate or obvious to their dull understandings. The idea of a Creator or a beneficent God has not entered the minds of these Indians."[27]
[27] Bates: _The Naturalist on the River Amazon_, p. 381.
The Peruvians, at the time of the Spanish conquest, worshiped nature; that is, the sun was deified under the name of _Pachacamac_, the Giver of Life, and was worshiped as such. The Inca, who was his earthly representative, was likewise his chief priest, though there was a great High Priest, or _Villac Vmu_, who stood at the head of the hierarchy, but who was second in dignity to the Inca.[28] The moon, wife of the sun, the stars, thunder, lightning, and other natural phenomena were also deified. But, as it invariably happens, where nature-worship is allowed to undergo its natural evolution, certain elements of phallic worship had made their appearance. These I will discuss later on.