ABSTRACT
Matombo oranges are large, sweet and famous as far north as Lake Victoria. Thus it is not surprising that the missionaries’ orchard attracted illegitimate consumers. On the advice of the boys of his football club, Brother Rudolf hung a tuft of grass in one of the orange trees as zindiko (kil. kago; see plate 15), a magical guard against thieves. The device worked to the Brother’s satisfaction, but gave rise to a vehement dispute in the mission’s refectory. Most Fathers said that Rudolf was spreading superstition. His reply was on the same practical level as the measure itself: “who is eating these nice oranges here?” 1
