Note note 17 — NOTES TO PART I
Reading edition
17 Otuama (p. 52) is our way of saying “you are becoming hot,” and by this the witch-doctor knew he was getting very near in his guesses, and the more excitedly it was shouted, the nearer the guesser knew he was to the facts of the case. In Chapter XXII the whole trick is more fully explained. See also preceding note.