The Fatk ov the Widows Amo>I(;st tfie Ba-uoncja. 371 



more or less t^» eacli other, liut the marriaj^e of the inlierited woman 

 is not absolutely settled. Her final fate is not to be known befoi'e the 

 last and most important act — the adjudication of the inheritance. 



(7) The Day ok the Ad.iudicatiox of the Inheritance. 



This is a most typical ceremonj' prepared with great care, because 

 that day is full of surprises and dangers. Every caution is taken to 

 avoid misunderstanding and to bring the mourning to a peaceful and 

 satisfactory conclusion. It is winter time ; the mealies have been col- 

 lected from the fields of the widows ; the small cobs called maknnuld 

 have been set apart carefulh'^ as they have to be used especially to pre- 

 pare the beer of the feast. The council of the family is gathered again 

 and decides that the time has come. The divinatory bones are con- 

 sulted. Should the astragalus of the goats fall in the right position ; 

 should, moreover, the astragalus of the duikers and other beasts of the 

 bush fall far away — it means that the old women of the village (the 

 goats) will be pleased and that the adverse infiuences from outside (the 

 duikers) are not to be feared. Let the ceremony take place then I The 

 bones are asked again a number of questions : Who must take the 

 mealies in the granary and put them in the pot to soften them in 

 water (first operation of native beer making) ; how long this softening 

 must take place ; who is to shout her mekiduiKjirmie to accompany 

 that work ; who will have to get the mealies out; which woman must 

 give the first blow in the mortar to pound the softene<l mealies, kc. 

 All the relatives assemble in the mortuary village. One year has 

 ■elapsed since the death, and the bitter feelings of mourning have 

 passed. Nobody will miss the feast, especially not the hatuknlu* viz., 

 the nephews, sons of the sisters of the deceased. 8ome people might 

 be disappointed that day, but one of those nephews might go back 

 home richer than when he left I Most of the relatives arrive before 

 the great day to help in the preparation of the beer. When the 

 woman designated by the bones has given the first blow, all her com- 

 panions start at once pounding with vigour : Ghe-ghe-ghe-ghe, and they 

 •sing songs of mourning. This is one of these songs and a very signifi- 

 cant one : — 



Hi rilo, hi rilo ! Hi ta ku yini ku we Hosi ndjina I 



We are weeping, we are weeping ! What shall we say to thee, King ? 



This king is without doubt Heaven, this more or less personal 



* NtiikidK, pi. boti(Liihi, designates not only the sons of the sister of a 

 man, his nephews by the sister, hut his jiiandsons, just tlie same as Hcpon in 

 Latin. Accordingly the nepliew by tlie sister calls his uncle, brother of liis 

 mother, kokvane, a word wliicli means also grandfather. (Compare the Latin 

 MVKUcuius.) The uncle brother of the father is called tafcnc, father. These 

 designations are used all tlirou;;h tlie Thoiiga tribe. Tn the Iloii^a clan the 

 ne{)]iew by tlie sister is also called by tlie sjiecial term uni/t.-iifrinri^ and the 

 uncle, brother of the mother, niahmic. 



y2 



