Always powerful check on kings. [1] Believed in their spirit possession. [2] Enchanters’ practices derived from ancient superstitions. [3] Fetish men thought to be directed by spirit ghosts. [4] First police officers; ghosts administered justice through. [5] First professional class; exempted from physical work. [6] Often epileptics. [7] Often of low-grade mind and morals; became wealthy. [8] Presume to stand between man and God as intermediaries, interpreters, and intercessors. [9] Ranking medicine men, ceremonial fetishmen. [10] Resorted to fraud and trickery. [11] Shamans who failed without alibi demoted or killed. [12] Some early communities ruled by. [13] Superstitious exaltation of family of swordmakers. [14] Terribly expensive, but worth all they cost. [15] Used because the spirit world was unresponsive to ordinary mortals. [16] Voodoo doctors typical of magicians of old. [17] Women were shamans because they tended home fires. [18]
See also: UB 90.