THE SURVEY CONTINUED ^3 



his principal men. They asked us to join with them in 

 attacking three tribes who Hved on the top of the mountains, 

 and were their hereditary foes. Two days before, these 

 latter had carried off five of their men. They were consider- 



THE WIZARD OF THE YERGUMS 



ably disappointed when we declined the proffered alUance, 

 or at least its offensive side. 



The Yergum women do not burden themselves with 

 much dress. Beads and bracelets of woven grass are worn 

 with a bunch of leaves in front or behind, after the custom 

 of the Gurkaua women to whom I have before alluded. 



It is the prevaiUng custom that a girl's first child should 

 be born in her mother's house before she goes to the home 

 of her husband. 



In the afternoon GosUng and I climbed the hill to visit 

 the great Juju place of all the Yergum, the dwelling-place of 

 the greatest magician for many miles around, who pretended 

 to foretell the future to those aspirants who brought goats 



