UGANDA JOURNAL.


 In every hut of the village beer is prepared in earthen jars. This is generally
done at sunset. The Ajwaka then motions to the relations to meet together, and
adorns his person with the signs and trinkets of his stock-in-trade. Over the
goat skin that he wears he places the skin of an antelope. In his right hand he
holds the Aja (a small empty calabash, containing small stones.) In his left hand
there is a small stick, or a wand. Making sundry and majestic gestures, he enters
into direct communication with the ancestors. He dances and prances, and every
now and then rattles the calabash, so as to attract the attention of the spirits.
They are expected to come and make known their wishes to him.

 All in attendance, very particularly the elders, pay close attention and the
silence is sepulchral. They are awed at the tremendously important act that is
taking place before their very eyes, and they are awaiting the answer.

 Suddenly the Ajwaka stands still; the rattling of the Aja ceases; he pauses,
and his features are tense. He is in evident communication with the ancestors.
Sitting on the goat skin he suddenly stoops to the ground, for he hears things.
The sounds at first are quite confused. Then they are clarified. He slowly raises
himself, and thus addresses the people.

 Kuaro tin dok oloko.
 The Ancestor spoke today, once again.
 Wuweny nyok, gweno, wa kongo.
 Get ready goats, hens and beer.
 The answer from the ancestors is given, and their wishes are made known
publicly. After these preliminaries the elders go and fetch a goat (nyok gibworo)
from the master of the Abila (won abila), that is, the one who built it. They
bring it near the Abila and, tied thereto until after sunset, it is afterwards taken
into a hut for the night, and the following morning it is again tied until sunset.

 It is well to remark here that the elders (lodito) always perform the rites,
regardless of whether they are or are not related to the owner of the Abila. This
office is reserved to them, since they are very well acquainted with all the rituals.
 The first offering of the goat, made without any ceremony at the time of the
presentation, is like an answer to the request of the ancestors. Meantime the
Ajwaka goes back to his village, and does not return any more until the following
rites of the consecration of the Abila. The next morning, at break of day, the
goat is taken close to the Abila and left there. Later on, about eight o'clock, the
elders gather in front of the temple to initiate the ceremonies.
 Then the master of the Abila (won abila) advances and loosens the goat,
and taking hold of its rope leads it around the Abila three times. He goes around
the Kac the same number of times. He suddenly stands still and while the others
stand around, with their spears, the Ajwaka commences the opening prayer. This
is a sort of general introduction to the function. Here are the words that are
uttered;