I n if idfioii Cercinoit K'K, Aranta Tnlx 



147 



At the present day the operation of circumcision is always 

 performed at a specially prepared spot to which tlie name of 

 "Apulia" is given. The nature of this can be seen from the 

 accompanying plan. 



«il A 



A path about five feet wide is cleared of grass and shrubs and 

 the surface soil is heaped up on either side so as to form a low 

 narrow bank (F F) of the same length as the path. The latter 

 is always made so that it runs east and west. At a distance of 

 about fifty yards from either end a small brake of boughs is 

 made (d, e). 



When all has been properly prepared the youth to be initiated 

 is seized early during the evening, while he is at the Ungunja or 

 camp of the men. This seizing of the youth is the duty of men 

 who stand in a certain definite relationship to him, viz., that of 

 (1) Okilia, or elder brothers, (2) Umbirna, or brothers of his 

 future wife, (3) Unkulla, or sons of his mother's brothers.^ 

 As soon as they lay hands on him they shout loudly " Utchai," 

 " Utchai." Not infrequently the youth, thoroughly frightened, 

 struggles violently and tries to escape in wliich case he is simply 

 cai'ried off" bodily to the Apulia ground. Once on the ground 

 and in the presence of all the jKien and women who have 

 assembled there he makes no further resistance but seems to 

 resign himself to his fate. The men are gathered together at 

 the eastern end of the Apulia close by the biake at the spot 

 mai'ked A in the diagram, while the women are at the spot 

 marked C. 



1 In the uovthei-ii part of the tribe all the men and women assemble at the Apulia 

 ground while the boy is asleep, and then three men and two youn;,^ women are sent to 

 awake and brinj^ him in. The women carry shallow "pitchis" or wooden bowls, with 

 which, after creepinfjf quietly up to him, they strike him sharply at the same time trwrif;- 

 cut loudly " rtchai." Then the three men seize and carry him off. 



