ABSTRACT
The rain cult is not composed of a few magical passes made by the queen; it is a whole complex of institutions with ramifications through many aspects of tribal life. The chief actor in the rain cult is the queen. Her rain-making is not confined to dramatic ceremonies in time of severe drought; it is conceived of as continuous care throughout the summer. Though renowned as the greatest rain-maker in South Africa, Mujaji never works alone. Great care has to be taken lest the rain-pots 'weaken'. The powers of the queen to make rain are not absolute. are also certain things that, by causing the rain charms to become 'weak', have power to stop the rain unless proper measures are taken. Neither European contact nor Christianity has succeeded in breaking down the implicit belief of every member of the tribe in the power of the queen to make rain.
