-24'^ THE Bx\GANANOA OR ilA-LABOCH. 



with their legs wide apart, and cradHng their heads on their 

 clasped hands, and are allowed to use a covering of blanket from 

 the waist upwards. The Mcuiiatsahaona are not allowed to 

 sleep at all that night, but have to watch their Avards to see 

 tliat these rules are kept. Early next morning they begin to 

 prepare sleeping sheds. The whole of the men's platform is 

 roofed in, and a shed (Plate 6. D) divided into c(jnipartnient>, 

 each holding from three to six boys, is built against the southern 

 fence on the inside for the use of the Initiates. But this is not 

 all done at once. The ground plan of the boys' dormitory, in- 

 cluding the dividing walls of the cubicles, is marked out by a 

 low wall of loose stones. Then a number of short poles, 

 forked at the upper end, are planted in the ground. Other 

 light poles are laid across from one support to another, and 

 rafters are fixed across from the uprights to the outer fence of 

 the enclosure, thus forming the framework of a long, low shed. 

 The shed enclosing the northern part of the Mpluito is l)uilt in 

 a similar fashion by planting poles about five feet high in 

 a row along the front edge of the platform, above the ti replace. 

 Rafters run across from these to the fence at the back, forming 

 a suj)port for the thatched roof. (Plate 6.) The thatching- 

 is done piece-meal, a little every day. Every morning after the 

 first day, when the morning meal has been disposed of, the 

 Initiates and their Keepers sall\' forth from the M [^hatu into the 

 veld, not returning until shortly before sunset. When they 

 return each boy is expected to bring a bundle of wood as a 

 contribution to the fire for the following night, but on the 

 first few days he must also bring a bundle of thatching grass. 

 This is collected as follows : Each Initiate ])rovides himself with 

 a short ])ole, about four or five feet long, as he goes out in the 

 morning. During the day he collects a bundle of grass. wRich 

 he ties round the head of the pole like a besom. The Chief's 

 son, however, does not collect his own grass. When the rest 

 of the party go out foraging he remains with the Keeper of the 

 Sacred Eire, and contributions of grass are brought to him by 

 the other boys. Even the tying of the bundles on to the pole 

 is done by them. The pole he uses differs from the rest, being 

 composed of three stout sticks bound together. When the 

 partv returns to the Mplialo. these grass besoms are carried 

 upright as far as the gate. The bundles of grass are then re- 

 moved, and stacked together, and the poles stacked in another 

 place. These poles are not used again for the same purpose ; 

 fresh ones have to be obtained every day. Late at night, after 

 the evening meal is over, when the hymns have been sung and 

 the dances performed, the boys go out and return each with a 

 bundle of the grass and range themselves on the southern side 

 of the fire. They then throw the bundles across the fire into 

 the hands of their Maiiiatsahoana,'^' who stand upon the plat- 



Proliahlv a magical rite to ensure fertility of .yrass. 



