INITIATION KITES OF THE liAPEDI. 



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The Initiates always approach the Lodge from the west, and 

 when they arrive in the evening they discover the ashes. The 

 Miditi ask them what it means, and being unable to give the 

 correct answer, they are beaten, and told that the ashes are the 

 droppings of the hyaena. The idea conveyed to them is that, just 

 as the droppings of a hyaena outside the kraal are a sign to 

 the inmates that one of those animals has been there in the night, 

 so this is evidence that the mythical or symbolic Phiri, of which 

 they have heard mention during the cjuarrying operations a few 

 days previously, has been there, and if the spoor be followed up 

 the animal may be found. The boys are led one b}^ one along the 

 ash track until they come in sight of the " Cones." and are then 

 told to look upon the sight " with amazement,' and asked to 

 explain it. If they cannot do so, they are beaten with Morctloa 

 rods and told: Ke Phiri c tshueu thamaga tsha mahyc! (That 

 is the white hyaena, the spotted one of the stones ! ) . 



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The Phiri. 



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When the Mphato and all traces of the rites are destroyed 

 at the close of the ceremonies, these cones remain standing, the 

 only relic of the Kgoma.- They are never used again, however, 

 and the name by which the}^ were known during Kgoma is 

 changed to Moruto. 



All the Badikana who were initiated at the same time are 

 said to belong to the same Moruto or regiment, a name being- 

 given to each Moruto. Only eight names are used for this pur- 

 pose, and they are used in succession as follows : — 



Masoeni. (This is the name of the oldest Lodge known.) 



Magolopo. 



Matuba. ( This is the Moruto to which Sekukuni I be- 



I. 



3- 

 longed. 



4- 



Manala. 

 Makgolo. 

 6. Madikoa. 



7- 



8.. 



Madisa. 

 Makgoa. 



