Our Last "Safari" 



made the object of any quarrel. Blows and injuries and 

 wounds are borne patiently and without protestation by 

 the probationers, and the loss of a hmb is even considered 

 by them as a good omen. Usually, in this flagellation, which 

 is called Kiipisa mbaka muleju and lasts for several hours, 

 all the neophytes are covered with blood. 



This performance is followed by the Woko. A delegate 

 of the Tata-ka-mamhela or of the Ishumu strikes twice each 

 one of the boys with a rod which is somewhat shorter (about 

 two metres), in order to announce that the first sitting of the 

 flagellation is at an end. Whereupon the neophytes return 

 near the hut of the Ishumu, where they remain until the next 

 day. During the night great festivities are in progress. 

 All the initiated attend as guests. Meanwhile scenes of 

 a particularly disgusting nature take place. For instance, 

 any initiated who has to relieve nature may do so all over 

 the body of one of the wretched neophytes. 



The next morning the Mogo ceremony is gone through. 

 All the people of the village go out to the pahsade erected 

 the previous evening by the initiated with the rods which 

 had served for the flagellation. This palisade has an aperture 

 called " Door of the Mambcla." The initiated go through 

 that door, and, provided with fresh rods, fall in in two files. 

 The neophytes, stark naked, then go through the door and 

 join the ranks of the initiated, who perform anew the flagella- 

 tion rite with the same brutality as the first time. The 

 neophytes, during this second performance, very often are 

 beaten unconscious and lie motionless on the ground. This 

 flagellation is called the Mogo. 



Next follows the Mukokoneki rite. Several small and 

 very flexible wands have been gathered together wherev^ith 



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