Our Last " Safari " 



tribes, without exception. General observances are every- 

 where the same, and may never have been altered, at any 

 rate in recent times. 



(2) Flagellation is of a somewhat milder form in those 

 clans which are nearer to the Government station. 



(3) The seclusion of the newly initiated in the midst of 

 the forest was formerly of much less duration ; those whose 

 wounds had not as yet healed up were allowed to complete 

 their recovery in their own village, although in a hut intended 

 for that purpose. The longer period of seclusion in the forest 

 is attributable to the immigrant Arabs, who caused same to 

 be imposed so that they themselves might have better chance 

 of going hunting. 



(4) In normal times, flagellation may be tolerated and 

 considered as an amusement rather than as a religious penance, 

 for in this case it is carried out with much less cruelty, inas- 

 much as the probationers have their body well protected 

 against the strokes of the rod. Custom will have it that, 

 upon the return from a hunt which has been fructuous, to 

 cite but one instance, the hunters are welcomed back to 

 the village with dancing, one of the features of which is 

 reciprocal flagellation with rods. 



The Barumbi and Bakumu of Bafwasende. Palavers : 

 Marriage for a Dowry. 

 Palavers between natives in the territory of Bafwasende 

 are mostly in reference to women. Certain rules are scrupu- 

 lously observed by the natives as to the way such palavers 

 should be conducted. These rules are frequently as follows : 

 (a) If a husband should die, his heirs claim the wife 

 and legitimate children of the deceased. 



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