XVII.] "MAKING BROTHERS." 233 



black and white stripes, some left plain, and others profusely June, 

 dotted with white finger-marks. On two sides of the building, i^''^- 

 a raised earthen bench three feet wide, and covered with mats, 

 served as a divan, 



A pile of large logs, out of which the wooden bowls are 

 made, was placed in one corner to season ; and in another was 

 a sunken fire-place, for use at night or in rainy weather. The 

 sole means of obtaining light, air, and ventilation was by the 

 door-way ; consequently the inside of the roof, where bows and 

 spear staves were seasoning, was black and shiny with soot. 

 The floor was of clay, and was perfectly smooth. 



On entering, it was with difficulty I could distinguish any 

 thing; but, as my eyes became accustomed to the absence of 

 light, I noticed gourds and cooking-pots hanging up, and every 

 thing appeared to be in its place, showing Mrs. Pakwanywa to 

 be a " notable housewife." 



After a certain amount of palaver, Syde and Pakwanywa ex- 

 changed presents, much to the adv^antage of the former — more 

 especially as he borrowed the beads from me, and afterward 

 forgot to repay me. Pakwanywa then played a tune on his 

 harmonium, or whatever the instrument might be called, and 

 the business of fraternizing was proceeded with. Pakwanywa's 

 head-man acted as his sponsor, and one of my askari assumed 

 the like office for Syde. 



The first operation consisted of making an incision on each 

 of their right wrists just sufficient to draw blood, a little of 

 which was scraped off and smeared on the other's cut, after 

 which gunpoM'der was rubbed in. The concluding part of the 

 ceremony was performed by Pakwanywa's sponsor holding a 

 sword resting on his (Pakwanyw'a's) shoulder, while he who 

 acted for Syde went through the motions of sharpening a knife 

 on it. Both sponsors meanwhile made a speech, calling down 

 imprecations on Pakwanywa and all his relations, past, pres- 

 ent, and future, and praying that their graves might be defiled 

 by pigs if he broke the brotherhood in word, thought, or deed. 

 The same form having been gone through with respect to Syde, 

 the sponsors changing duties, the brother-making was complete. 



This custom of " making brothers " I believe to be really of 

 Semitic origin, and to have been introduced into Africa by the 



