Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 22, 1911.djvu/196

 1 68 The Popular Ritual of

evening of the first day of the feast, and is continued in the two or three following evenings, as the case may be. The party, here also collectively called si\na, consists of Bujlud, who is dressed up in goatskins, his wife 'Azzuna, who in spite of her Jewish name is dressed like a Berber woman, several old "Jews," a "camel," a "mule," and sometimes a "lion." Bujlud carries a basket filled with ashes, which he throws on the people. His behaviour is very indecent. No holiness is said to be attached to him.

Among the Ait Nder the masquerade takes place in the evening of the second day of the feast, and the two following nights. The party is made up of Bujlud, his wife Suna, and two "Jews," besides a number of followers, who go with them singing and playing the tambourine. Bujlud is dressed in the black skins of goats which have been sacrificed at the feast, his face is covered with a mask made of a goat's stomach, on his head he has a piece of dark cloth, on both sides of it he has slippers representing ears, and at the abdomen he wears an artificial penis. He beats with the skin on his arm tents and people, including the two Jews, who are thus chased away by him, and he pretends to have intercourse with Suna, as also with any she-ass he happens to meet. He and Suna dance, but they carefully refrain from speaking, so as to escape identification. The two Jews have at their temples tufts made of goat-tails, and on their faces are fastened long beards of white wool. In their hands they carry a long stick and a basket, supposed to contain goods which they sell to the people, receiving in return a little money, meat, and eggs ; and similar gifts are presented to Bujlud's followers. They all keep together when they walk from one village to another, but when they arrive there they divide themselves into two groups, the Jews going ahead and Bujlud and Suna following with the musicians.

Among the At Ubahti the play commences in the evening of the second day of the feast, and is continued till the