Page:Seven Years in South Africa v1.djvu/478

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Seven Years in South Africa.

often remains unbroken, in spite of the commander avowing himself a Christian and being baptized.

The girls, so long as the ceremonial lasts, are not allowed to sleep; to keep them awake they are made to spend the night sitting upon wooden cornpounders, of which the equilibrium is so unstable that the first attempt to get a wink of sleep sends the damsel toppling over.

Bamangwato girls dressed for the boguera.
Bamangwato girls dressed for the boguera.

BAMANGWATO GIRLS DRESSED FOR THE BOGUERA.

The real object of the entire ceremonial is to discipline and harden the young, particularly the boys; the rite is followed by a succession of hunting excursions, organized and kept up for several succes-