UGANDA JOURNAL.


 The inaugurations of Abila for chiefs are much the same as for those of the
common folk. There are, however, a few minor changes. The successor of the
deceased chief will build the Abila in the Kal-the village of the chief-and its
proportions will be larger. The sticks which are to be used for the building are
not always of the same quality. At the Kal of Patiko they use the Olwedo, and
at that of Atyak any tree, so I was assured by an old chief. At times the size of
an Abila of a chief is the same height as that of a common hut. (Fig. 6)
 At Atyak the Abila are two in number: one to the Chief Labongo who was
one of the first of that dynasty; the other to the last chief, Olya. They are both
as large as common huts.
 Of course in this case there is not a fixed number of poles, which might be
taken as a sacred number for such buildings. In such a large Abila as that of a
chief, which is the size of a common hut, there is a fork in the middle for sup-
porting the roof. The royal drums called Bul Ker are depended from it.
 If the chief's Abila is of the common type and is too small to house the
royal drums these are kept in a special hut nearby, which is specially built for
this purpose.
 Near the chief's Abila, which is in the centre of the village, Kal, there is
not an ordinary sacred tree, but a special one called Okango. Even for the chiefs,
the Kac, (sacred tree) will be one only, even when the Abila are more than one.
 For the inauguration of the Abila of a chief, a great dance takes place.
 The duty of building the Abila, as was stated above, devolves upon the first-
born, and when he is single his married brother will perform this work. If he
has no brothers, he himself will do it.
 When the time for building it has come, and it is important to remember that
the ancestors indicate the time, the very first thing to be done is to consult the
Ajwaka. If the sign is a sickness or some other misfortune, the Ajwaka then de-
clares the need of building the Abila. After having drawn lots in his own hut he
then declares who is to build.
 If the sign was made known in a dream, the Ajwaka then says very solemnly
that it is so, and says that the ancestors must have food. The quality of timber to
be used is then pointed out by him, as also those things necessary for the cere-
monies.
 After having consulted the Aiwaka, the builder of the Abila returns home,
and sends word around to all the relations, acquainting them of the Ajwaka's
decision to build an Abila. They are so informed in order that they may partici-
pate in the rites and ceremonies. He likewise tells them the amount of flour they
should bring for the bread and of leaven for the beer. If there are other food-
stuffs to be consumed, he tells them.
 When all the food is ready and all the relations have arrived, word is sent
to the Ajwaka asking him if he wishes to attend, and if so to come at dawn. Then
they set about building the Abila, following very minutely the instructions of the
Ajwaka.