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FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

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initiate is tested by the old, either at the spring when she goes to draw water, on the<br />

way, or some woman may come to test her at her own home. The new initiate is<br />

expected to respond according to what the examiner does or says.<br />

4.<br />

5.<br />

6.<br />

7.<br />

Mzako akati madzi anga<br />

Madzi anga mmatunga<br />

Mmatunga kunkwapa<br />

Kuli wana wa mikango<br />

Aenda nalirima<br />

Tandiuza chalirima<br />

Chalirima m 'nkhole<br />

Nkhole yanga ndi ukulu<br />

End as in 1 above<br />

Mzako akati chikho changa<br />

Chikho changa namatola<br />

Chotunga kunkwapa 3<br />

Kuli ana amikango<br />

Aenda nalirima<br />

Tandiuza chalilima<br />

Chalilima m 'nkhole<br />

Nkhole yanga ndi ukulu<br />

End as in 1 above<br />

Mzako akati mphika wanga<br />

Mphika wanga ndimapana<br />

Ndimapana ndimakutu anyini<br />

Mtu wambolo userereka<br />

Tandiuza aserereka<br />

Aserereka m 'nkhole<br />

Nkhole yanga ndi ukulu<br />

End as in 1 above<br />

Mzako akati ndaima<br />

Ndaima mpholokoto<br />

Ngati mtengo wakudambo<br />

Pakubala ukuti wira<br />

Pakugwa ukuti lakata<br />

Tandiuza chalakata<br />

Chalakata m 'nkhole<br />

Nkhole yanga ndi ukulu<br />

End as in 1 above<br />

Kumtengo (Tree) Ritual<br />

When your friend says my water<br />

I was drawing my water<br />

I was drawing from the soil<br />

There are lion cubs<br />

They walk around roaring<br />

Tell me what has roared<br />

What has roared is menses<br />

My menses means maturity<br />

When your friend says my cup<br />

My cup, and (she) is picking (it up)<br />

It draws water from the soil<br />

There are lion cubs<br />

They walk around roaring<br />

Tell me what has roared<br />

What has roared is menses<br />

My menses means maturity<br />

When your friend says my pot<br />

My pot I was clasping<br />

I was clasping with the ears ofthe vagina<br />

The head ofthe penis is slipping<br />

Tell me what is slipping<br />

What is slipping is menses<br />

My menses means maturity<br />

When your friend says I am standing<br />

Standing upright<br />

Like a tree at the brook<br />

When bearing fruit it dangles<br />

When falling, it does so heavily<br />

Tell me what has fallen down<br />

My menses means maturity<br />

With my informant we went to the initiate's tree (mtengo wa namwali) where about<br />

fifteen women were gathered, holding a mat to form a hedge. Inside the hedge two<br />

169

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