218 



Mackie Ethnological Expedition to Central Africa. 



DESCEIPTION OF PLATES. 

 Plate 12. 



Fig. 1. — -The king of Ankole, who is noted for his height, being about 6 feet 7 inches. 

 The staff or sceptre he holds was handed to him each morning ; he first put it to 

 his forehead and then to each shoulder to destroy any magic or other ills of the 

 night. 



Fig. 2. — Ankole royal drums. Drums were not used in Ankole. These drums, said to 

 have been brought by an early king, were held to possess spirits. They were kept 

 in a temple and had a herd of cows devoted to them. Votive offerings were made 

 to them of cattle. No cow might be killed or removed unless the spirits consented. 

 The sanction was obtained by the priest by augury. Each morning and evening 

 milk was offered to the drum spirits, and after it had been some time before the 

 drums, and the spirits were supposed to have taken the essence, the priests drank 

 the milk in the temple. 



Plate 13. 



Fig. 3. — Medicine-men exorcising a ghost. These men laid the patient on his bed, and, 

 after using incantations over him, they nmde incisions on his chest and forehead, 

 and rubbed in powdered herbs. One of them chewed certain herbs and expectorated 

 the juice into the mouth of the patient, while the other man sang incantations and 

 used his rattle over him. 



Fig. 4. — Pots used as drums for dances. The water-pots are beaten on the mouths by 

 flat leather pads, the different sounds being obtained by various amounts of water 

 being poured into each pot. 



Plate 14. 



Fig. 5. — Bunyoro milk customs. The king had a herd of nine sacred cows ; two were 

 milked for his special use, the others were wanted for milk for ceremonial uses, 

 and also to give to favourite wives. The milk was kept in the dairy, where the 

 king went at stated times to drink it. The men and women engaged in this work 

 were purified for their oflSce. 



Fig. 6. — Bunyoro. When the king retired to drink the sacred milk everybody in the 

 royal enclosure knelt and covered their faces. Should any sound be heard, 

 especially that of clearing the throat, the culprit was put to death. When the 

 milkmaid handed the pot of milk to the king she screened her eyes with the cover 

 of the pot, while with her other hand she used a fly-brush, waving it to keep off 

 insects. 



Plate 15. 



Fig. 7.— Bunyoro. Type of cowman who milks the sacred cows ; during the time of 

 his office he may not see or speak with ordinary men from outside the kraal ; 

 during the milking he must avert his eyes to avoid seeing the milkmaids. 



Fig. 8. — Bunyoro new moon dance. With each new moon there is a festival lasting 

 nine days. During these ceremonial dances some solemn rites are performed, 

 such as admitting members to the sacred guild, trying members of that body who 

 have offended, and sentencing them to death or acquitting them. 



