UGANDA JOURNAL.


 Komwa obed ma yot.
 That our bodies may be healthy
 Kongo wamiowu tin dong.
 Here, this day, we offer you beer.
 Then the rest of the hen and the beer are given to the people who took part.
Even the boys of the relatives of Won Abila may eat and drink.

 There are some Abila that are consecrated only with the offering of a hen;
this may be either because the builder had nothing else to offer, or it may also
be due to the express wishes of the ancestors. Later on, when the Abila's owner
gets a goat, he will offer it, without any special ceremony other than the formula
of presentation:

 Yam amii gweno.
 Some time ago I offered you a hen.
 Tin amii dyel dong en.
 To-day, I here offer you a goat.
 Komwa obed ma yot.
 That our body may be healthy.

 Among the people of Atyak, when they offer chicken with bread the
elders sit down, and they place the small pellet of meat in the hand of him who
is appointed to make the offering. Kneeling before the Abila he sets the ball of
meat on the ground. He does not throw it. The above formula is then recited.

 After these offerings the elder master of ceremonies takes the spear in hand,
together with those of the participants, which were leaning against the sacred
tree, and says in a clear audible tone of voice:

 Wuling eno ba:
 Keep silence.
 Wan watimo ngadi.
 We have offered to an ancestor.
 Tin wamio cam en.
 To-day we have given food.
 Ento wuling !
 But listen!
 Kom dano obed ma yot.
 The body of the people may be healthy.
 And all the elders reply with one voice:

 Kom dano obed ma yot.
 The body of the people may be healthy.
 And they continue: