VI 



TRAVELS IN EASTERN AFRICA 



251 



to drop out into his left hand. The message of Fate 

 was conveyed by the manner in which they emerged 

 from the hole in the gourd, and thus was determined 

 the outcome of the enterprise under consideration. 

 The strips of leather were used after the following 

 manner. One strip was held in each hand, and the 

 seer, closing his eyes, danced back and forth for 

 a time, repeating words of supposed magic import, 

 meanwhile beating the strips together. After a time 

 a strip was thrown over each shoulder, and the 

 position in which they fell upon the ground de- 

 termined whether the omen was good or evil. Pro- 

 phesying by this latter means is not confined to the 

 old men, for the old women likewise claim skill in 

 thus foretelling the course of events. 



Circumcision was practised among these people 

 after the manner of the Masai. The circumcisor was 

 invariably a man of not more than middle age. The 

 operation was performed upon the boys at an age, as 

 near as I could judge, between eight and ten. 



When a young woman has reached a marriageable 

 age, and her hand has been sought by some warrior, 

 the young man pays his attentions to her father. He 

 bargains for her as he would for merchandise — so 

 many goats, so many yams, so much work upon the 

 father's plantation, etc. When the purchase price has 

 been mutually agreed to, the young man must by hook 

 or crook possess himself of a sufficient quantity of 

 honey-wine to enable his future father-in-law to indulge 

 in a state of thorough intoxication. This latter act is 

 considered a necessary one, and a fitting seal to the 

 bargain. After consent has been wrung from the un- 



