230 CIRCUMCISION CEREMONY. 



net ! The lad is a banana tree north of the town,"''* the 

 leaves not broken, the young shoots untaken ! The lad is not 

 a child ! He is a sorohitra (a bird) on a rock ; thrown at, 

 not hit ; throwing, hitting (his enemy ) ! His cattle cover 

 the plains ! His money fills a large tomb ! f His slaves 

 crowd his country house ! " with much besides of a like 

 figurative character. 



On the morning following the above-mentioned ceremonies 

 (the morning of the day of the cu-cumcision itself) water is 

 again fetched, but this time it is termed " strong water." For 

 each child a strong and powerful man is appointed, who 

 fetches water in the same kind of gourd as the " sacred 

 water ; " and, as on the former occasion, is accompanied by 

 others bearing shield and spear. Following these again are 

 the fathers of the children, who take the baskets already 

 platted by the mothers to fetch the unripe bananas which are 

 to be di faditra. 



Having obtained the water, the bearers return at the top of 

 their speed. Their attendants cry, " Children of the eagle," 

 to which the water-carriers reply, "Lay their eggs on the 

 rock." Upon arriving at the gate of the town, strange to 

 say, they are assailed with stones by the people inside. 

 Making their way through these opposing forces, they arrive 

 at the lapa or chief house, where the children to be operated 

 on are seated on a drum placed north of the hearth, and 

 opposite the window. Just before the circumcision is effected 

 the sovereign says to each child of his own family, " Be a 

 man to overcome, my lad ! May you obtain ! Eeach old age ! 

 Live long ! Conquer the land, my lad ! Be master of the 

 kingdom ! " As soon as the operation is over, the children 

 are taken to be warmed and comforted at a rush fire made 

 in the south corner of the house, after which they are taken 

 home. 



The children of the sovereign's relatives and of the people 

 generally, are placed on a drum to the south of the hearth and 

 opposite the door. They are also saluted with a benediction : 



* That is, the leeside, sheltered from the prevailing south-east winds. 

 t The tombs are commonly used as repositories of money. 



