400
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.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Seven_Years_in_South_Africa%2C_page_400%2C_Bamangwato_girls_dressed_for_the_Boguera.jpg/400px-Seven_Years_in_South_Africa%2C_page_400%2C_Bamangwato_girls_dressed_for_the_Boguera.jpg)
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-