MEN OF THE TREES 



and both male and female are operated upon some time 

 between the ages of ten and fifteen. Such later cere- 

 monies are not only of secular but religious significance. 



Indeed a close knowledge of the A-Kikuyu people 

 shows that they are deeply religious. They believe, as 

 I have shown, in the existence of N'gal — the Great 

 White Spirit who dwells beyond the snows of Mount 

 Kenya. Towering over their country this lofty moun- 

 tain which in that clear atmosphere is visible from a 

 great distance is the Great Controller of their destinies. 

 Enshrined in its heights is the Great White Spirit God, 

 which always has been and ever will be, sees, hears and 

 knows all. He is addressed in solemn sacrifice as "Mwinln- 

 yaga" or Possessor of Whiteness, while the mountain 

 where he dwells is called "Kirinyaga," meaning Place of 

 Whiteness. The sun, the rain, and lightning are all mani- 

 festations of him and they are sometimes worshipped as 

 such. There are also sacred trees under which prayers 

 are offered up and sacrifices made, for they have no tem- 

 ples other than clearings in the forests, with the blue 

 sky above. This makes their devotions none the less 

 sincere, and to be present and witness a solemn gather- 

 ing is an experience which could not fall to Impress the 

 most skeptical of persons. 



On one occasion I was lecturing before an American 

 audience, when I referred to the fact that I was deeply 

 impressed by their belief in prayer. Strange to relate, 

 I found that in certain quarters I had deeply offended 



1 20 



