GLOSSARY
This includes the native names most used in the text.
Dorobo: Masai word (spelt Torobo by Hollis) often corrupted by travellers to Wandorobo or Andorobo. Dorobo in Masai means tsetse fly. The name for an aboriginal race of hunters who inhabit the great forests of the highlands in East Africa. They call themselves Asi and the Kikuyu call them Adzi. The name of the Athi River is believed to be a corruption of Adzi.
Engai (Kikuyu): The deity.
Eithaga: The name of a Kikuyu clan, members of which are said to possess magical powers; sometimes spelt Aithaga. A member of this clan is called a Mweithaga.
Gethaka (Kikuyu): The portion of a ridge in Kikuyu owned by a particular family, the title to possession of this being obtained from the Dorobo, the original occupants of the forest. Some regard it as a freehold right, others maintain that the Kikuyu only acquired the right to cut the forest in order to make shambas, or gardens. The gethaka rights are, however, very real possessions in the eyes of the Kikuyu.
Huku (Kikuyu): A mole-like rodent—Tachyorctes sp.
Ichua (Kikuyu): A sacrificial fire.
Imu, singular; aiimu, plural (Kamba): Ancestral spirits.
Ithembo, singular; mathembo, plural (Kamba): Sacred place where sacrifices are carried out.
Ira (Kikuyu): White diatomaceous earth which is also used in ceremonial as a purifying agent.
Itwika (Kikuyu): A periodic ceremony which marks the termination of a generation or age in the tribe—it corresponds in some ways to the Masai Eunoto ceremony. [[306]]
Kikuyu: The missionaries now often spell it Gikuyu. A member of the Kikuyu tribe is called Mu-Kikuyu—plural, A-Kikuyu. In common parlance, however, if one drops the prefixes and refers to a man of this tribe as a Kikuyu (native)—the latter word being widely understood, it is simpler than attaching the appropriate prefix. An upland tribe in Kenya Colony extending from near Nairobi to Mount Kenya.
Kamba: Mu-Kamba is the singular; A-Kamba is plural and collective. In the same way as above, it has become more usual to simply refer to them as Kamba (native). Their country is termed Ukamba, and their language Ki-Kamba. A tribe in Kenya Colony, east of Nairobi. There are detached portions of the tribe near Mombasa, near Taveta, and in Tanganyika territory.
Kithangaona (Kikuyu): Sacred place.
Ku-roga (Kikuyu) verb: To place upon or to bewitch.
Kihe (Kikuyu): An uncircumcised boy.
Kamwana (Kamba): An uncircumcised boy.
Kin͠gnoli (Kamba): Collective killing or execution by the people of a person convicted of certain serious offences.
Kafara (Swahili): A charm placed at cross-roads to avert misfortune. If anyone carries it away it is believed that the misfortune or disease will be carried with it.
Kirume (Kikuyu): The dying curse which can be suspended over his descendants by a dying man.
Kiume (Kamba): The dying curse which can be suspended over his descendants by a dying man.
Konono (Masai): A clan of serfs believed to be of alien race who live among the Masai and who are the smiths to the tribe. They correspond to the Tumal of the Somalis.
Kita (Kikuyu): The power of the evil eye.
Kiama (Kikuyu): Council of elders.
Mwanake, singular; anake, plural (Kikuyu): Warrior class.
Mutumia, singular; atumia, plural (Kamba): Tribal elders.
Muthuri, singular; athuri, plural (Kikuyu): Athuri ya Ukuru—the senior elders.
Mumo (Kamba): Sacred fig tree. [[307]]
Mugumu (Kikuyu): Sacred fig tree, often called muti wa Engai.
Makwa (Kamba): Afflicted by a curse. See thabu.
Mwati, singular; miati, plural (Kikuyu): A young ewe which has not borne a lamb.
Miatini (Kamba): The fruit of Kigelia musa or Kigelia pinnata—used for fermenting beer.
Mulungu (Kamba): The deity.
Mathamaki, singular; azamaki or athamaki, plural (Kikuyu): An elder of council; his official title, not his grade rank.
Muturi, singular; aturi, plural (Kikuyu): A smith.
Mundu Mugo (Kikuyu): Medicine man.
Murogi (Kikuyu): Medicine man who deals in black magic.
Muburi (Kikuyu): Goat.
Ngoma (Kikuyu): Ancestral spirit.
Ngoma (Swahili): A dance. This word is also widely used by up-country natives.
Njele (Swahili): A half gourd used as a domestic utensil for drinking water, gruel or milk.
Nzeli or nzele (Kamba): A half gourd used as a domestic utensil for drinking water, gruel or milk.
Nthele, singular; anthele, plural (Kamba): Young married man.
Ndorume (Kikuyu): A ram, a favourite form of sacrifice.
Ng͠nondu (Kikuyu): A ewe, which is also used as a sacrifice on certain occasions.
Ngunga (Kikuyu): Caterpillars.
Njohi (Kikuyu): Native beer, usually made from sugar cane.
Nzama (Kamba): Council of elders.
Njama (Kikuyu): A consultation by the elders; the proceedings are generally secret.
Rika (Kikuyu): Generation—age grade.
Rathi (Swahili): Happiness, blessing—generally used of a formal blessing. Kuwarathi—to be satisfied or content with. [[308]]
Rukwaru (Kikuyu): A strip of goat skin bound on the waist of a person to signify that he has duly performed a certain ceremony.
Ruenji (Kikuyu): A razor.
Ruoro (Kikuyu): Knife used for branding cattle.
Shamba, singular; ma-shamba, plural (Swahili): Cultivated field or garden, widely used by up-country Africans.
Ku-tahikia (Kikuyu), verb: To purify. Ku is the infinitive prefix common to all verbs.
Thabu (Kamba): A curse or afflicted by a curse—a condition which is the result of certain acts, analogous to some forms of tabu.
Thahu (Kikuyu): A curse or afflicted by a curse—a condition which is the result of certain acts, analogous to some forms of tabu.
Thengira (Kikuyu): Literally the goat hut. It is synonymous with the hut in which the unmarried men sleep.
Thomi (Kamba): Open meeting place outside every village.
Tatha (Kikuyu): The semi-digested vegetable matter which forms the contents of a sheep or goat. When an animal is sacrificed this is used as a purifying agent to remove evil. In Kamba language called muyo.
Uji (Swahili): Gruel—also widely used by East Africa Bantu tribes. Uji is usually made of maize or millet meal.
Uki (Kamba): Beer, especially mead, made from honey, but the word is used for all beer. [[309]]