ABSTRACT
Although outwardly surrounded with all the trappings of royalty the chief is not absolute monarch. An undercurrent of excitement and anticipation runs through the gathering, as it is tacitly understood that this summons precedes the disclosure of the identity of the new chief. The makhadzi addresses the assembly, telling the people that their chief, who went away, has returned to them. In the old days the new chief would make war on any subject chief who failed to show him the customary respect. The sealed hut containing the late chief's remains is ceremonially opened by the medicine-man and the new chief is shown the bones of his father. The new chief is given a secret medicine to drink to make him impotent; one or more of the elders also partake of this drink in order to keep their chief company in his new life.
