——————————————————————
LINES OF
——————————————————————
WOMEN.
——————————————————————
The men stand with their heads erect and their arms locked together.
They are nearly naked, but wear ornaments of brass around their waists.
The trappings of the war dance are altogether wanting. The women are,
however, in full dress, for their part consists only in singing. When
all are ready, a man who has been selected for the purpose commences to
sing, the others immediately join in, and at a certain note the whole
of the men rise together from the ground. The dance consists merely in
springing straight up and coming down with a quivering of the body; but
when the men warm to it, it gives them great satisfaction. The song is
very monotonous, the same note occurring at every rise from the ground.
This dancing, with intervals of rest and feasting, continues as long as
the bridegroom’s relatives supply oxen for slaughter. A day suffices
for a poor man, but a rich man’s marriage festivities may last a week
or upwards.
On the closing day the bridegroom and his friends march from one hut,
while the bride and her party march from another, so as to meet in
front of the entrance to the cattle kraal. The bride carries an assagai
in her hand, which she throws so as to stick in the ground inside the
kraal in an upright position. This is the last of the ceremonies, and
the guests immediately begin to disperse, each man taking home the
milk-sack which he had brought with him. In olden times ox-races
usually took place on the closing day; but this custom is now falling
into neglect.