THE liAGANANOA OR MA-LABOCH. 245 



where he woukl have some chance of defending himself in case 

 he were attacked by his brother, and this advice was foUowed. 

 When morning came, and the flight was discovered, Lebogo's 

 Ijrother at once went to his father, and asked for permission 

 to follow up the refugees and punish them for their desertion. 

 The crafty old man replied that they might do so, but if thev 

 found Lebogo had got across the river they were to give up the 

 pursuit and return home. 



The refugees had hardly tinished their morning meal when 

 the alanii was given, and the pursuing warriors appeared on the 

 further bank of the river. The enemy, however, did not attempt 

 to cross the stream, and after hurling insults and reproaches at 

 them the pursuit was abandoned. Among other epithets applied 

 to them that day was that of Bayaiianotv^, a name by which they 

 have been known ever since. 



Continuing their flight in a south-easterly direction, the 

 Bagananoa came at lengtli to the foot of the Blaauwberg range, 

 and camped on the present farm Witstein. Leaving their 

 women and children at this spot, Lelwjgo and his warriors scaled 

 the mountain, and advancing to the hoofd-stad of the AIagoela,t 

 he again applied for permission to settle there. The request 

 was refused, and a battle thereupon ensued, resulting in a 

 victor}- for the Ma-laboch. In a very short time their |x:)sition 

 on the mountain was firmly established, and they have remained 

 there ever since. 



The Iiiitialioii Rites of the BcK/anaiuu!. 



Xo male member of the tribe is allowed to take an\- part in 

 the Councils of the Kraal or to exercise any of the privileges 

 of manhood until he has been circumcised and further initiated 

 in the secret mysteries. This usually takes place between the 

 ages of ten and seventeen years. The ceremonies last about 

 three months, commencing at the time of the " Kaftir-corn '" har- 

 vest, and are usually arranged to be held when the son of a 

 chief, or one of the Indunas attains the age of puberty. Pre- 

 parations are made for weeks beforehand. Branches of trees 

 are prepared, grass is cut, and the low walls of stone, which 

 form the basis of the Mphato or lodge enclosure, are put in 

 order. (See Plate 6.) Cpon this foundation i)iles of ])rnsh- 

 wood are heaped, and a thick, impenetrable fence, ((uite imper- 

 vious to sight, and of a sufficient height eflectually to conceal 

 all that goes on within the enclosure, is erected. On the side 

 facing due east an entrance is left, and this is finished ofi: by a 

 doorway composed of two straight poles of the wild fig tree 



* Bagananoa ^= the deniers, refuscvs. or quarrellt-rs. — L. A. T. 

 Winter. 



t According to "Short History of Xat. Tribes of Transv.," issued by 

 Native Affairs Department, 1905, these people were called Madcbana. 

 The chief Malaboch tokl me tliat the people they found living on the 

 mountain were the Masetecii — " a tall. pale, long-haired race." 



