Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 22, 1911.djvu/197

 The Great Feast in Morocco. 169

seventh day inclusive. There is a man, Biijlud, dressed in the black skins of goats sacrificed on the day before, his wife Suna, an "old Jew," and two "younger Jews." They all dance, and the Jews and other people accom- panying Bujlud and Suna sing, — A Hdima ma l?k ma lek? a Hdima md lek via lek f d Hdima raddl balek I a Hdima bent Umbdrek, Bujltid md kad 'alas. Suna bgdt l-geddid, Bujlud md zal sger, Suna bgdt l-geddid (" O, Haima ("amorous one"), what is the matter with you, what is the matter with you .-* O Haima, what is the matter with you, what is the matter with you } O Haima, look out ! O Haima, daughter of Ambarek (" the blessed one "), Bujlud is good for nothing. Suna wants strips of dried meat (an indecent allusion), Bujlud is still young, Suna wants strips of dried meat"). As in many other tribes, Bujlud has a phallic appearance, and pretends to have intercourse with Suna. The people make him presents of raw meat of the sacrificed animals, there being merit in such a gift. He has baraka in him,

I have also information of the prevalence of a masquerade at the Great Feast among the Berbers of the Rif, although in some parts of the country constant blood feuds are an obstacle to it. There is Bujlud dressed in the skins of sacrificed goats, a " wild-boar," a " lion," a " huntsman," and a " Jew " selling his goods. Bujlud runs after the people who tease him, and beats them; and he is privileged to enter the houses and to take from them whatever he wants.-^

Among the Berbers (Sluh) of the Great Atlas range and the province of Sus, in Southern Morocco, similar customs are found. The Igllwa call the man who is dressed up in

-^According to M. Moulieias there are in the masquerade of the Rif a judge, an old man called Basil}, his wife, his donkey, and a Jew ; and such a masquerade takes place not only at the Great Feast, but at the Little Feast and 'Asura as well, {Le Maroc inconnii, Premiire partie, Exploratmi du Rif, 1895, pp. 106 et seq.).