© 2020 Dr Margaret Sheppard

Men’s Service

While the men continued, more boloi (sorcery) items located and were dug up, at the threshold and entrance of the lolwapa of the house where we had slept, a male prophet dug with his hands and a metal prophecy stick. All items - pieces of wood, bits of skull and the porridge (i.e. dibeela -abominations)) were carried away for later public display before they were rendered harmless and destroyed.

Whilst this all-male service continued one of the women's choirs held a practice. Another small group of men and boys who wore Scottish kilts instead of uniform trousers, and had seed bead dance rattles around their legs, danced in a separate circle. They carried various prophecy sticks for example, one had a small wooden axe with a silver- painted blade. The bridegroom was among them. They danced in a circle but from time to time one of them would go to the centre to perform a "Speciality". It was later explained to me " by one of my informants, himself a member of this group, that these uniforms are called MaScotch. When they wear them they are “given” special power to "see" the position of boloi. Apparently this costume was adopted just after World War II when it had been noticed that Scottish soldiers were particularly brave. It was assumed that this costume gave them these extra powers to overcome the enemy! - Nowadays they buy these kilts from soldiers and then take them to Moria to be blessed. (In the old days warriors were always doctored by tribal traditional doctors to protect them . Maybe it was believed that the unusual clothes - the kilts - gave the Scottish soldiers particular powers and protection.

MaScotch - the Scottish military style uniforms are believed to give them extra powers and protection to search out sorcery items buried in the compound.