MEN OF THE TREES 



The recruits who desire initiation are then introduced 

 and warned of the consequences of Hghtly making prom- 

 ises which they may be unable to perform. After this 

 solemn warning it has often been found that candidates 

 will waver and fall out. Only those who continue in their 

 desire to become members are allowed to repeat the three- 

 fold promise: 



"I promise before N'gai, the High God, to do at least 

 one good deed each day, to plant ten trees each year, and 

 to take care of trees everywhere." 



Next the attention of the candidates is drawn to the 

 colours of The Men of the Trees. At this stage in the pro- 

 ceedings each candidate has a sponsor both in front and 

 behind him and the Master of Ceremonies proceeds, 

 in a clear voice, "They are green to remind you of your 

 obligation to plant trees and white because your heart 

 must be 'Safi.' " Upon the word Safi, the sponsor in front 

 gives the candidate a sharp slap on the heart, sufficiently 

 hard to knock him back into the arms of his second 

 sponsor, who immediately pushes him forward, and upon 

 recovering the candidate's eyes open to view the emblem 

 of the green tree blazoned on the white background and 

 tied on the ceremonial tree. 



All that now remains is to give the newly initiated 

 member the secret sign and password. The secret sign is a 

 particular handshake which symbolizes the threefold 

 promise. While the password, namely, Twahamwe, means 

 "pull together," or as is sometimes translated, "we are 

 all pulling together as one man." This word, Twa- 



4^ 



