exuɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ] the remnants, ashes, of a farm-fire; they must be burnt once again; cf. xuɛ̃ [ / ]. exuɔxuɔ, exwɔxwɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] a rat trap. exwae [ ˥ ˩ ] a group of charms of oval shape, made of a pounded “medicine” that has been mixed with water or, when making a “stronger” exwae, with coco- nut milk or blood. Those “stronger” exwaes must not be made in one’s house (in the ɛgũ [ ˥ ˩ ]) but in the bush. The exwae is usually kept in the ɛgũ, i.e. the apartment where one’s Osũ [ ˩ ˥ ] stands; in that case it is used to “push” one’s enemies into danger (v. sua [ / ]), and also in cursing and blessing. In other cases it stands under a small thatched shelter outside the wall of the compound; those exwaes are of a “stronger” nature: they are called exwae n-odĩɔʋ̃a [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “main exwae”, lit. “exwae that is senior to man”, and they give strength to the particular god whom the owner of the exwae follows. Others are found in the shrines of gods; they are given the blood of sacrifices (v. wa [ / ]; ɔwaisɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ]). Possibly the exwaes always have some rela- tion to the Osũ [ ˩ ˥ ]; they are also said to be “moving with witches”, and, therefore, the witch-doctor holds an exwae when “giving chop to witch- craft” in order that it may com- municate with the witches and tell them that they are given food. A curse is: exwaa (exwae ɔ-) sua ɽuɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ‿ ˩ ] “may exwae push you”: v. asua [ ˩ ˥ ], ɛbo [ ˩ \ ]. exwe [ ˥ ˥ ] (1) tomato. (2) garden-egg. |