Our Last "Safari" 



intricate ceremonies accompanied by wearisome rites and 

 great cruelty. The order, as it were, is under the high 

 presidency of the Tata-ka-mambela, -which title is equivalent to 

 " Grand Master of the Mambela." He alone acts as the 

 supreme chief of several clans, when these are not too far 

 apart or too numerous. 



The Tata-ka-ynamhela is appointed by birth. He is 

 succeeded in his functions by his own son, or, failing a son, 

 one of his nearest relatives. The Tata-ka-mamhda is the 

 custodian of the fetish. He is assisted by several soothsayers 

 or headmen called Ishionii, usually found in most of the 

 largest villages, and these are also from birth appointed 

 to act later on as Ishiimu. 



The Tata-ka-mamhela does not bear any distinctive 

 insignia, whereas the Ishumu are distinguishable by several 

 rings which they wear on the fingers, a broom made of palm 

 fibres and several tattoo marks shaped thus "^ S which 

 cover their chest, abdomen, shoulders and arms. Probationers 

 have the same marks, but on the chest and abdomen only. 



The executive power is vested almost exclusively in 

 the Ishumu, which is the reason why they enjoy such a high 

 prestige amongst the Babali tribes. Many of them have 

 indeed the powers of a minister of State. 



The Babali see in the Mambela rites a system of physical 

 culture for children. Initiation is carried out in the following 

 manner : — 



All the Babali of the male sex must be initiated. When 

 the Tatd-ka-mamhela, upon the advice of his Ishumu, 

 announces that the time of the Mambela is drawing nigh, 

 all the boys between ten and fourteen years of age are 

 presented to the High Priest by their father, or, in the absence 



197 



