The Forest People

Turnbull catches up with the group of youths; the trip is difficult. The Pygmies do not stop; Turnbull must be careful not to trip or fall or otherwise embarrass himself. It is only after some time that he notices the Pygmies have not brought spears with them on the trek. Though the thought unnerves him as he recalls they do not fear the forest. Moreover, they are on a trip to bring back the molimo. After a time, they reach the location of the molimo. Turnbull learns how the molimo are hidden high up in trees that are marked so other BaMbuti know to leave the trees alone as they are the sleeping places of the molimo. When the trumpets are recovered, Turnbull is thoroughly disappointed. It turns out the molimo have been made with drainpipe from the village, as opposed to the traditional way of making them from wood. One of the youths even makes a crude noise with the molimo, causing the others to laugh. Turnbull thinks it sacrilege, but is told that the molimo itself is not the important thing. The important thing is one’s reverence and belief in the molimo.