Witurna

Among the Urabunna, the spirit of the initiation of boys. The sacred stick given to the boy is called chimbaliri. The women and children never hear this word, but are taught to believe that the sound is the voice of a spirit called Witurna, who takes the boy away, cuts out all of his insides, provides him with a new set, and brings him back an initiated youth. The boy is told that he must on no account allow a woman or child to see the stick, or else he and his mother and sisters will tumble down as dead as stones. He is also warned not to interfere with other men's wives.

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