159 
Where the ceremonies are performed in secret, it will 
obviously be difficult to obtain a full account, or to witness 
them, but much insight into their purpose may be gained by 
judicious and persistent enquiry. 
1. Are any ceremonies of initiation performed ? (a) for 
boys ? ( b) for girls ? 2. At what age, or period of life, do 
they occur ? 3. Is there any visible sign borne by those 
who have undergone the ordeal ? (mutilation, addition to 
dress, or ornament, tattooing, &c.) 4. Are the ceremonies 
secret from all but the initiated ? 5. Are women permitted 
to be present at the initiation of boys ? 6. Or men at that 
of girls ? 7. What preparation is exacted from the candi¬ 
dates ? (fasting, isolation, &c.) 8. Do the ceremonies take 
place at a particular time of the year or month, and why ? 
9. How long do they last ? and are they continuous, or 
separated by intervals ? 10. Where are the ceremonies per¬ 
formed ? in the village, or at a special place apart ? 11. Are 
any special dresses or disguises worn by the performers ? 
Describe them. 12. Are any implements used on these 
occasions which are obsolete in daily life ? (e.g., stone imple¬ 
ments among an iron using people). 13. Is the name of the 
individual changed on his initiation ? and does the name then 
given last during life ? 14. Is it thought unlucky, after 
initiation and change of name, to mention the name pre¬ 
viously borne ? 15. Is any special or cryptic form of lan¬ 
guage taught to the initiated ? or are words not in the 
ordinary language used at the ceremonies ? 16. Have the 
initiated any pass words or signs ? 17. Do these signs extend 
beyond the tribe ? (e.g., to a neighbouring tribe having 
similar, but not identical, ceremonies). 18. Are there grades 
of initiation? 19. Do these indicate distinctions in social 
rank ? or can an individual of low rank pass through all in 
the course of time ? 20. During the ceremonies, is there auy 
pretence of putting the candidate to death ? and what reason 
is assigned for this ? 21. What ordeals has the candidate to 
undergo ? 22. Is he isolated from the tribe for some period 
after his initiation ? 23. Is this to prove his ability to pro- 
