NATIVE CHILD LIFE. 6/5 



prepared as follows : On the day after the feast, the integ-ument 

 was smeared over with red clay, and after being pegged out lo 

 dry was carefully rubbed over with a smooth stone {imbogodo). 

 When ready the hide was used as a sleeping mat for the baby. 

 Prior to the festival referred to the father was prohibited from 

 seeing his child, but as a matter of fact, many a stolen peep at 

 the infant was taken! In the event of his being caught in the 

 act of admiring his oiTspring, fines were imposed. These were 

 paid to the old women of the kraal, who were always on the look- 

 out not to lose any opportunity that might present itself of 

 obtaining this perquisite ! The custom, however, that prohibited 

 the father from being present at the birth of his child has now 

 become obsolete. 



Soon after seeing the light the infant undergoes the following 

 process of being smoked (called iikufntiva). Several varieties 

 of medicinal herbs are placed in an earthenware vessel with some 

 live coals to produce a dense smoke, and the child is swayed to 

 and fro in the fumes. This procedure is carried out every morn- 

 ing at sunrise, and is continued until the infant is about two or 

 three months old. At this period the process is changed ; and 

 roots of a medicinal nature are hung round the baby's neck, with 

 pieces of skin cut from the hide of an eland ; failing this, pieces 

 of goat or sheep skin are used. In some tribes the first joint of 

 the fourth finger of the left hand is amputated when the infant 

 is about three days old, and the portion is buried in the floor of 

 the hut, the exact spot being known only to the parents. Should 

 the finger joint by any chance be disturbed by an unseen hand, 

 the kraal owner immediately consults a " witch-doctor," who is 

 supposed to be able to clear up the mystery. In regard to the 

 operation alluded to, it is believed that unless the custom is 

 carried out, the child will be constantly fretful, and may grow 

 up weak and puny. 



At the age of about four months, the ceremony of removing 

 the hair is gone through. Beer and food are prepared for the in- 

 mates of the kraal only, and during the feast the baby's head is 

 carefully shaved by the father with a well-sharpened knife. The 

 hair is handed to the mother, who ties it up in a small piece of 

 hide, and attaches the bundle to her neck. This tiny parcel will 

 be worn by her, day and night, until the second crop of hair has 

 grown and been shaved oil. The two lots of hair are then buried 

 by the side of the finger joint. The first " crop " is carefully 

 guarded by the mother until the second has appeared, in order 

 to prevent it falling into the hands of an enemy, who. by anoint- 

 ing it with poison, and burning it, would cause the child to be 

 permanently bald ! 



When the mother returns from the fields, or has been out 

 visiting, she takes- a bite from a root (called inqawaiie) , which 

 she wears suspended from her neck, and gently expectorates on 

 her, little one's face to neutralise the evil designs of an enemy. 

 On one occasion a Native woman called at the writer's house with 

 her baby boy, who was quite nude with .the exception of a strip 



