S32 ETHNOLOGY 



ance of the ceremony, a dance is organised, and 

 the youths designated to undergo it are worked up 

 into a state of frantic excitement, and one by one 

 are conducted, still singing and gyrating, to the 

 place set apart for the purpose. Although securely 

 held, they do not as a rule either struggle or wince. 

 A dressing of a plant of an indiarubber order, which 

 is highly astringent, and a few days' rest suffice to 

 heal the wound completely. The doctor receives 

 a fowl for each boy operated on, but nobody finally 

 leaves the Muah until all are healed. On return 

 to the villages, a great feast is held, after which the 

 newly circumcised youths select a new name, and 

 are supposed to be allowed access to any of the 

 women in the village, but I hear that this custom 

 is now falling into disuse. Thenceforward, to 

 address a young man by the name of his childhood 

 is a most serious offence, and one which may well 

 give rise to acts of violence. It is no doubt most 

 remarkable, but I have never heard of any case of 

 septic poisoning or of any other ill-effects caused 

 by the system of circumcision as practised by the 

 tribal divisions I have mentioned. 



In the case of the girls, they are similarly 

 separated in their Mapuru under the charge of 

 some village sage femme, and undergo instruction 

 in their duties as wives and mothers. Regarding 

 what follows I have been variously informed, but 

 I have come to the conclusion that whilst in some 

 districts an artificial dilatio vagince is performed, 

 in others the same result is arrived at by natural 

 means. I have not, however, satisfied myself that 

 both methods are practised. 



