I.4.V. THE NON-ARAB RACES OF DARFUR 6i

is an important feature in the proceedings. In anticipation of the

festival the lads of Midob allow their hair to grow long, and about

spring-time they begin to pay special attention to anointing and

plaiting it. Thus, when the time comes for the celebration of the

second half of the festival, if the fathers, judging the harvest suffi-

ciently good to warrant it, give sanction and anoint their own heads

(which are, of course, close shorn), the lads dress themselves up with women's ornaments, bracelets, beads, etc., and take a drum {nu-

gdra) and form a procession and go round visiting all the neighbour-

ing villages, beating their drum and inviting contributions.

In a good year there will be some fifty to a hundred youths thus

celebrating the bazza, in a poor year perhaps only a dozen or so; and evidently it is a matter for distinct pride in after-life to have been one of the lads of a good year : of my informants one boasted

that he had been one of sixty-three and another one of fifty-five. If

the numbers are sufficiently large two independent processions are formed instead of one.

Before setting out on their series of visits (which may extend over

a week or a fortnight or so, according to the number of villages to be

visited and the length of the gaps between visits) the lads select from among the elders of their tribe, for the maturity of their judgment, two old men {"'baraga sirigi" i.e. "rulers of the young men^") as

advisers: it was explained that two were chosen, and not one only,

because in human affairs "two heads are better than one." It is a matter of formality that these two elders at first refuse, and only

allow themselves to be over-persuaded when the lads engage solemnly

to them to behave themselves and lead a decent orderly life, avoiding

quarrels and irregularities and insubordination. This done, the two

elders consent to act, and instruct the lads in the proper ritual. The same elders may never serve more than twice.

In addition, the lads select from among their own number two

leaders- for each procession, or for the single procession, as the case may be; but for this privilege only those are eligible whose fathers and mothers are still alive and hale. During the course of the pro-

cessional visits all the lads submit to the orders of the leaders thus

chosen.

Then the procession sets out and visits the villages, beating the drum and collecting whatever is offered of corn, money, sheep, strips

of cotton material, etc. Small girls, not yet come to puberty, may

^ The word "sirigi" is also that used for a village sheikh at Midob.

- Also apparently called "baraga sirigi," as are the two elders. It appears to be immaterial which of all the youths beats the drum.