INITIATIUN KlTliS OF TUK liAPl'IDl. 



5^-3 



always situated in the water's edge, in some secluded spot in a 

 ravine. Arriving at his destination, he selects a large flat 

 stone, and placing it in position on the brink of the river, he sits 

 down and awaits tlie arrival of the Badikana and Men. 



Soon after the Tipanc has left the kraal, the Initiates, under 

 the care of the Miditl, and accompanied b}' the Men of the kraal, 

 proceed to the mouth of the kloof. Here the Initiates are placed 

 in a thicket, and surrounded by a guard of Miditi and Men. 



The Im'tiate of the highest rank is taken from the rest, and 

 led to the place where the Tipanc is waiting for him. When he 

 reaches the spot, he is seized and made to stand on the flat stone 

 close to the pool of water ; his stcrt-riem is removed, and the 

 operation of circumcision is performed. (See Note A, Appendix.) 

 For the support and protection of the wounded organ a Garl ea 

 morctloa (ring of Morciloa) is provided for each Initiate. It 

 consists of a wicker ring woven of Moretloa bark and fibre, and 

 is suspended by a string passing round the waist. (See Plate 26.) 



The operation over, the Initiate is ordered to " Hold the 

 head " and enter the pool of water. Here he remains, submerged 

 to the neck, while the rest of the boys are brought, one by one. 

 and the same proceedings repeated till all have been circumcised. 

 All this time the Men, and the Miditi in charge of those at the 

 head of the kloof, keep up a constant noise by shouting and 

 singing, so that the cries of those undergoing the painful opera- 

 tion are drowned. The boys, therefore, have no idea of what is 

 going to take place before the operation is performed. 



WHien all the boys haA e been circumcised, the Initiates are 

 called out of the water on to the bank, and the following " psalm " 

 is chanted by the Miditi : — 



Kijaii Madikaiia.'''- 



Kgan, Madikaiia — Follow me, () Initiates. 



Madika, le he Ic — Initiates, Listen. 



Le he le nkoago — Listen and hear me. 



Lena haiia hesliti — You our children. 



Tslioto maregere — The cartilaginous gland. 



Kc sishu sa ho noko — It is only a festering sore of the loins. 



Madipa kitdupa — ? 



Each line of the psalm is chanted in a monotone till the last 

 syllable is reached, when the voice drops about two tones. All the 

 while the Initiates kneel (before the fire, when sung again later j, 

 and accompany the words with a soft humming chorus as fol- 

 lows : — 



Yeh-e - 



e - e 



* The literal translation of this and the succeeding psalms is bv Mr 

 C. A. T. Winter. 



