ABSTRACT
Ibo youths or maidens of the character and nature of those met with in East and Central Mrica. The fact that circumcision is usually performed soon after birth, and that life in all its aspects is an open book to every boy and girl, would appear to obviate the necessity for further instruction. There are certainly no "camps" or secret meeting-places reserved for initiatory purposes. They would be superfluous, and time spent on sex questions would be largely wasted. By the time young people have arrived at the stage of puberty, they have learned all they can learn from their daily contacts with life, certainly as much as their own folk are capable of teaching them.
is not an uncommon custom for boys and girls to cohabit as a " game". At the first symptom of menstruation, however, the girls stop "playing" and, on the whole, restrain themselves until they are betrothed. The customs vary in different localities; likewise, some parents are more strict than others, and keep their girls under sound control, holding it a matter for pride to be able to proclaim their daughter's chastity when a suitor asks for her in marriage. In due time proof is provided by the use of a cloth as in the case of an Israelitish maid (Deut. xxii. 17). If a girl prove to be unchaste, besides words spoken, there will be a curtailment of gifts to the parents and other " in-laws".
