where the hills, holes, or rivers were located, or by the
person whose enterprise led him to the neighbourhood
of such places.
The future was foretold by the wise men in two
ways: either by means of a gourd filled with different
E m b e S h e p h e r d s
coloured pebbles, or by means of two bits of leather
shaped like sandals, and covered on one side with
ornamental designs. The gourd and pebbles were
used as follows. The old man, placing the pebbles
in the gourd, shook it up, meanwhile uttering some
magic words, and then allowed the stones one by one
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 followine
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 determined
whether the omen was good or evil. Prophesying
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