into the masker's maw. Having done this they
clap their hands and sing:548
space, and as he sits down all the assembled men of the village clap their hands in salutation, and give vent to a loud hum. The priest then takes some medicine, mixes it with a little red earth and inserts the mixture in a calabash of palm wine. Addressing the deity he says: "The Moon has returned to us to-day. The custom which I am now carrying out was inherited by me from my forefathers, and when I die will be carried on by my successors. It is not a thing of my own invention. By the grace of the Moon may we all enjoy health and prosperity; may we be defended from sickness, and may witchcraft recoil on the heads of those who practise it. May we obtain all the things that are necessary to our welfare."
On the conclusion of these words all the assembled people give
a grunt of assent, and the priest then applies the medicated wine
to the lips of the masker, who pushes back his mask in order to
receive it. The calabash is presented to him thrice and he drinks
a mouthful on each occasion. The priest then gives him some
chicken's flesh, which he eats. He is then given another draught
of wine. All present now light their pipes and blow tobacco smoke
[63] into the masker's maw. Having done this they
clap their hands and sing:
"Ee sho a ye, sho an dayi nano, ee", i.e. "Ah! be careful of the god, the god is about to rise and go on his way. Ah!"
The masker then rises and begins to jump about and leap into the air, imitating the actions of a bird. He goes off alone to the village and jumps about in the open spaces, the women and children having concealed themselves in their huts. Every now and then he squats down near the huts and grunts, the women clapping their hands in salutation. He then addresses the women in a falsetto voice saying1 "During this moon abide in health." The women answer "Yea!" And again: "During this month bear male children without mishap." The women answer "Yea!" He continues: "During this month bear female children without mishap." The women answer "Yea!" He concludes: "During this month witchcraft shall not come upon you." The women answer: "Yea!" In the meanwhile the men, assembled in age groups, are given a meal by the priest. Beginning with the senior group
1The masker disguises his voice by speaking through a horn, the end of which is covered with spider's web or the skin of a bat.