Bertha and I enjoyed a wonderful evening in the garden; I was seriously surprised at her compliance and then at the shame that followed. I almost ( 204 ) couldn't say goodbye to her, because while I was saying goodbye to the guests, she was in the other room with her father and his bride, and because she didn't hear or see that I wanted to leave, I had to wait outside for a long time before she came in. I've never had a sadder farewell to her than today.

December 27th, 1839.
Since I came a little late today, several of the native children had already gone out; Of the few, about eight, that I had there, some knew the A B C completely. Yesterday Br. Teichelmann drew all the letters of the alphabet for me on paper with ink, which I glued individually onto small boards; and since I have also nailed some folded strips onto my board, I can put the letters together as I like; the latter are printed and not handwritten letters.

[And therefore these were Latin characters and not from the Sütterlin script.]

December 28th, 1839.
On that day took place one of the greatest celebrations among the natives that I have ever witnessed, namely the circumcision of five boys. They began by chasing the young people, with the women pretending not to admit it and shouting while the men laughed. Then the boys were led to the ( 205 ) place where they were to be circumcised, with their eyes covered, and when they had arrived they were laid on the ground and covered with clothes.

The women and children remained down in the riverbed throughout the entire ceremony, as they were forbidden to be spectators if they lost their belongings.

It seems as if the circumcision of some young people is usually arranged in secret by the elders, for not only are large numbers always gathered on this occasion (this time the number of men present was no less than 75), but one does not hear the least about it beforehand, as is usually the case with all their undertakings. --

When the boys were lying there and after a while they had rested and discussed the further course of the ceremony, a kind of race began, which the natives call Turlo yakkani and which consists of the following.

A man runs towards another man, stomping and grumbling, and hugs him from behind. The latter, who has long been familiar with this sign, immediately takes off his clothes and begins to run as mightily as if he wanted to run to the end of the world; Meanwhile, constantly pursued on his heels by the first and another ( 206 ), he only runs until he is exhausted, where then the two pursuers, one by the shoulders and the other by the legs, take him and stretch him out along the length of the boy to be circumcised and lay him on his back, covering his entire body with dust.