MYSTERIOUS WORSHIP OF THE WOMEN. 15 
co 
place, for the King said—‘“ Ntanga, I myself can not go 
and have a look.” 
The feast of Njambai takes place once a year. 
~The women had come from all the villages round; 
they had come for the Njambai feast. They had all 
painted their faces and bodies, were beating drums, and 
marching about the town. Now and then they would 
all go into the forest, whence I could hear their wild 
songs. From time to time they entered the Njambai- 
house, where they danced inside and outside; and one 
night they made a most outrageous noise, far greater 
than even the men had made when I came to the 
village. 
- I thought it pretty hard not to be able to sleep. Aft- 
er a few days I began to feel the need of it, but I did 
not wish to go and make my camp in the woods, for I 
wanted to see the feast of Njambai. The men were 
hunting all the time, and all the game they killed or 
caught they brought to the women, who offered them all 
to Njambai. 
On the second day they nearly all went off into the 
woods, and their songs were something wonderful. 
Now and then I could hear the name of Njambai. I 
noticed that in the morning a few had entered the © 
Njambai-house, where they remained, keeping a myste- 
rious silence. Now my curiosity, which had been great- 
ly excited to know what took place in that secret wor- 
ship, finally overcame me. I resolved to see the inside 
of this house if I could. I alhsh, many of you would 
have done the same. 
I walked several times up and down the street to 
avoid suspicion. Looking round and seeing nobody, I 
| G2 
