INITIATION KITES OF THE HAPEDI. 57^ 



return in a body to the Mphato, wbicli they must enter before 

 sunset. The order of events is t'ollowed day after day until 

 the wounds caused by circumcision are healed. 



Sometimes the Paramount Chief will visit a Lodge for the 

 Kgonia dance. When he enters the enclosure the Badikana 

 prostrate themselves, kneeling with faces to the ground, and claj) 

 the palms of their hands together above their heads, remaining 

 in this position for a considerable time. If another chief enters 

 the Lodge he is greeted in the same wa}-. but the posture is not 

 maintained for the same length of time. Visitors not of 

 chietiy rank are greeted by the Initiates by clapping of liands 

 only. 



When the w^ounds of circumcision have completely healed, 

 the Lodge prepares for the Phiri* or " Ashes" ceremony. 



A large flat rock is selected, and upon this a huge tire of 

 brush-wood is built. \\'hen the rock has become thoroughly 

 heated, water is poured upon it.f and the rock cracks and split:? 

 up into numberless small slabs. As the noise of the explosions 

 is heard the Midifi cry " ()-hoo-oo-oo .'" lieat the Initiates and 

 say: " There I Do you hear the hyrena?" ( )n the first da\- that 

 this is done the Midifi choose out small slabs of stone, not more 

 than eighteen inches across and about ari inch, in thickness, and 

 grind the edges and polish them by rubbing them against other 

 stones, showing the Badikana exactly how to perform the opera- 

 tion. W^hen the slab is ]>erfectly smooth, a wicker covering of 

 Morctlua is woven round it as a protection, and for convenience 

 in carrying. 



On the following days these ])roceedings are repeated, but 

 stone slabs have to be selected and prepared by the Initiates only, 

 according to the instructions given them on the first da}'. When 

 the time for polishing slabs exjiires, the Midili cry '' Sliibe Baloi!" 

 { Come together, Baloi). [ The whole party then assembles, each 

 Initiate bringing his wicker-covered slab. These are piled up in 

 a heap, and then the Miditi. ])ointing at the stones, belabour the 

 Madikana w'ith sticks and cry : " Kc Phiri c ishneu e tshupya. 

 inoroa oa Marokane shiaf/ctshe gae, ea fslwa tscnna fsa geshu ea 

 tsebatsebislia!" (There is the white hycena. without horns, the son 

 of Marokane § who stole into our Kraal, and carried away our 

 manhood, and danced about with it!) 



Then comes the following chant, during the singing of which 

 each Initiate picks u]) one of the slabs, and the bundle of firewood 

 he has collected during the day, and the party prepares to march 

 back to the Mphato. 



* Phiri = Hycena bruuitca. 



t Some of our informants contradict this, and say that it is not neces- 

 sary to pour cold water on the lieated rock, as the heating process itself 

 causes the rock to split into slabs. 



t Moloi =^ a wizard, j'.i'.. a malevolent magician as distinct from 

 Ngaka, a witch doctor. Moloi is an opprobrious epithet, but during the 

 K_s;oiiia rites it is frequently applied to the Initiates. 



§ Baroka = name of a tribe near Haencrtsburg. (In Sesutlio Mar oka 

 = bad dreani>, or dreams abmu dead peojde. after wliich the dreamer must 

 he purified.) 



