extraordinary. The manner in which, at certain times, one man or
woman, more excited than the rest, bounds from the ranks, leaps
into the air, bounces forward, and darts backward beggars all
description. These violent exercises usually close about
midnight, when each party retires; generally, each man selects a
paramour, and, indulging in sexual gratification, spends the
remainder of the night." (W.C. Holden, _The Kaffir Race_, 1866,
p. 192.)

At the initiation of Kaffir boys into manhood, as described by
Holden, they were circumcised. "Cattle are then slaughtered by
the parents, and the boys are plentifully supplied with flesh
meat; a good deal of dancing also ensues at this stage of the
proceedings. The _ukut-shila_ consists in attiring themselves
with the leaves of the wild date in the most fantastic manner;
thus attired they visit each of the kraals to which they belong
in rotation, for the purpose of dancing. These dances are the
most licentious which can be imagined. The women act a prominent
part in them, and endeavor to excite the passions of the novices
by performing all sorts of obscene gesticulations. As soon as the
soreness occasioned by the act of circumcision is healed the boys
are, as it were, let loose upon society, and exempted from nearly
all the restraints of law; so that should they even steal and
slaughter their neighbor's cattle they would not be punished; and
they have the special privilege of seizing by force, if force be
necessary, every unmarried woman they choose, for the purpose of
gratifying their passions." Similar festivals take place at the
initiation of girls. (W.C. Holden, _The Kaffir Race_, 1866, p.
185.)