576 INITIATION RITES OF THE UAPEDI. 



The time is now rapidly drawing near when the ordeal will 

 be over, and the Badikana will emerge from the Lodge as full- 

 blown men. Before they do so, however, they must cast aside 

 the name of childhood, and assume new names by which they will 

 be known in the future. These names are given in the 

 following way : — For some days the Men ( or it may be 

 a single individual) who are most expert in the art of carving 

 remain all day in the Mpliato, spending their time in carving 

 wooden figures of animals, which are ornamented with poker- 

 work. The most important of these carvings is the figure of a 

 rhinoceros. As the boys sit by the fire in the evening this figure 

 is drawn slowly past them on the ground. As it passes, each 

 Initiate stabs at it with a miniature spear, declaring the honour 

 name which he has adopted. At the same time he is expected to 

 recount the explaits which he is going to perform as a man. 



The following oration made by Tlali, a son-in-law of the 

 Chief Indnna of Sekukuni I, during his initiation is a typical 

 example of what is said on these occasions. 



LITHOKO EA TLALI. 



" I am the lightning (Tlali) of the great kraal of Matsoshie 

 (the Summoner), the relation of Manaka (horns). 1 am the 

 brave member of a brave stock. I am the pursuer of the human 

 being there at Mamarata maboe. I am the great donga of the 

 river Mathsoane of Molepo. I am the river which took away the 

 grain-bags of the Swazis. The men who rule the country by 

 laying an ambush ; the Swazis. I looked into the donga and 

 returned. I found the Matabili a writhing mass. They are 

 called the Boctscma of Mahlaku of Makhoro. I say I will never 

 go to Swaziland again. I declare that having touched the person 

 of a Swazi child, it made my hand stink. They dress in kilts 

 made of arrows. They dress in assegais of spotted colours. The 

 assegais of the black men of Mogolopo. The great donga, the 

 son of Maenche, of Molitele. They say you dress yourself in the 

 chief's dress, though you are not a chief." 



When the honour-names have been given to all, the Madi- 

 kana models of other animals are produced. Before this, how- 

 ever, they are privately shown to the Miditi, and if they do not 

 recognise the animals, they are beaten. When the figures are pro- 

 duced before the whole company, Men, Miditi, and Badikana go 

 through the action of stabbing each beast, at the same time 

 repeating its " honour-name."* 



The following is a list of the animals represented in this 

 way : — 



Rhinoceros, leopard, ostrich, a bird (?), coney, hare, guinea 

 fowl, quagga, elephant, girafi^e, baboon, mongoose, tortoise, rooi- 

 haas, another bird ( ?), hedge-hog, lion bufifalo, lizard, springbok, 

 ape, ant-bear, waterbuck, centipede. 



* See Appendix, Note D. 



