Pygmies are safe in the forest; once they are out in the open, however, such as in the village, they are prone to influences of evil such as witchcraft.
A certain type of honey is available at a certain point in the season in the forest. It becomes fermented due to the dead grubs in it, which can cause intoxication. The Pygmies do not need this, however; they, as Mr. Turnbull put it, are "drunk with the forest, with its beauty and abundance, and with the love it showers on people".
Every night people gather around the fire and sing songs of joy and praise to the forest.
Mr. Turnbull and I came across Kenge one night by himself, singing and dancing. He claimed that he was not dancing alone, but rather with the forest.
By traveling alone in the forest, it is as if you are daring to look into the face of the great god of the forest himself; the goodness and beauty of the world around you is so overpowering.
A great song of praise for the Pygmies: "If darkness is, darkness is good".
*Observations*
When out of the forest, the Pygmies believe that they are subject to all kinds of evil- witchcraft especially. When in the forest, however, they are safe. While honey is welcomed, the Pygmies do not have need for the type of honey that can cause intoxication; rather, they are drunk with the forest and the love it showers on them. The fire is a place where the Pygmies gather to sing songs of joy and praise to the forest, which shows their gratitude. Kenge exhibited this by dancing by himself- or rather, with the forest as he sang songs of praise. When traveling alone, the beauty and goodness of the forest is so overpowering, Mr. Turnbull believes that it is as if you are daring to look into the face of the god of the forest. Pygmies do not believe that darkness is evil; rather, they sing a song of praise about it, stating that if it is, then it is good.
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