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with spider's web, and he speaks through the central hole. His speech is interpreted by one of the members of the cult.
On the seventh [93] 
day after death a funeral feast [94] 
is held, during the course of which the priest of the kuru cult blows a whistle and calls on the people to be silent while he speaks as follows: "So-and-so has left us. But he is not dead. He is with the kuru, and he bids me to tell you that all is well with him and that you must abide together in peace, one with the other."[95] 
During the dry season there is an annual "feast of all souls", palm-wine, porridge, and pieces of the flesh of game-animals being offered at the shrine of the kuru. First-fruit offerings are also made to the ancestors at the guinea-corn and maize harvests. It was also customary in the past to get rid of criminals and recalcitrant slaves by sacrificing them to the kuru.
The genius Mbar [96] 
appears on other occasions besides funeral ceremonies. Thus when the maize crop has reached a height of two feet Mbar is the presiding genius at the rites which are then held. The officiant priest, holding a calabash-ful of beer, takes his stand in front of the genius and says: "We have come to-day to perform the custom of our forefathers at this season. I therefore beseech Nama (God) and Mbar that they may give us health and prosper our farm work. Let not birds rob us of the fruits of our labour, and may we have rain at appropriate times. May prosperity follow us in all that we do." He then offers some beer to the genius, and, having drunk some himself, he pours a few drops on the forefinger of the right hand of each man present. All then touch their right shoulder with the moistened finger. The intention appears to be the sanctification of the right hand which does most of the farm work. After this rite each man is given some beer to drink. Later a feast is held in the town, and during this the genius appears dancing, the women and children meanwhile hiding themselves in their huts. But sometimes Mbar's wife Yageru [97] 
appears and dances with the women and children.
There are a number of other genii, all of whom appear to be personifications of the earliest ancestors[98] 
. Thus there are Garmau, Boo, Nbem, [99] 
and Chimbin. [100] 
Mbem [101] 
appears to be the guardian genius of children, and when beer is offered to him he drinks it through a tube as a child drinks from his mother's teat. Chimbin [102] 
is the special genius of women and he appears on the death of