Till'. i;.\(,,\.\A.\OA Ok .MA-LAi;()c II. 2_j.J 



bond) (Plate 5, Fig. 2) not only acts as a toin-nic(uet. but 

 serves as a support and keeps the bleeding wound away from 

 the scrotum. It is worn until the scar has completely healed. 

 A stock of these rings of different sizes is prepared beforehand, 

 and is kept ready for use within the surgeon's reach. The 

 Kgolcgo rejoices in the " honour-name of Le Iwniia Ic Ic nyjinc 

 le tshca iiiang/ Lc tshca Kyulcyo Moratlii.'* 



The operation, of course, is exceedingly painful, but the 

 cries i>f the patient are drowned by the noise of the s;houting 

 and singing of the rest. When the operation is over the boy 

 is led away by his warden to a spot a few yards distant, where 

 he is hidden from view, and another victim is brought to the 

 chair in the same waw and this procedure is repeated until 

 every ])0}- has been circumcised. When this done, the boys are 

 taken away from the Mpliafo to some secluded s])Ot in the near 

 neighbourhood, where they are not likely to be disturbed, and 

 here they remain ((uietl)' until towards evening. They are not 

 allowed to touch any food all day. While some of the 

 Manialsalioana remain to guard the boys, the rest go off into 

 the veld, or wander about the mountain side in a body, wildly 

 singing and shouting all the time, and collecting wood for the 

 evening fire. This is done to mislead the women and children 

 of the kraal, and to make them believe that the whole party, 

 including the boys, is wandering about. All through the time 

 of the initiation rites deceptions of this nature are practised, 

 for the luen entertain the greatest horror of allowing the women- 

 folk, and the uncircumcised, to know what is taking place. Late 

 in the afternoon the Avandering Maiiiatsahoana rejoin their 

 companions, and tlien. before the sun sets, the whole party 

 enters the M photo for the first time, through the Tsela ed Baloi. 

 (Plate 6. No. 2.) 



A fireplace is now prepared by building two long walls of 

 stone across the enclosure immediately against the front of the 

 men's ])latform. ( ."^ee Plate 6. ) The wood which has been 

 collected during tlie day l)y the \vandering Maiuatsahoiuui is laid 

 in order, and fire produced by the Icshana. or fire drill. Once 

 the fire is lighted the tlame is not allowed to 'lie out until the 

 rites are over, some three months later. This is made doubly 

 sure by keeping the tire going all da\' immediatel}- in front of 

 the Chief's Seat, about the middle of the fireplace, and by 

 appointing one of the Initiates as Keeper of the Sacred Flame. 

 This is an important post, and the boy to whom it is assigned 

 has to carry a burning log with him all day when the party 

 leaves the enclostire. The fireplace is about three feet wide, 

 and extends from near the eastern fence, close to the spot 

 where the Nut of the Crocodile is built later on, about two- 

 thirds of the way across the enclosure to the western gate. 



The first night the boys slee]) in the open on their backs, 



"See Passwfirfl : Resi)nnscs 57 to 6n. 



