1. Gaichungi Baibuatho M'Mbarui, MOS 34. [BACK]

2. See Fadiman, "Early History of the Meru," for additional detail on Meru origins and subsequent migration to Mount Kenya. All sketches in this chapter are drawn from this article. [BACK]

3. Lambert, Systems of Land Tenure , 10. [BACK]

4. "How the Meru Came to Their Present Country," typed manuscript, author unknown; originally collected by E. B. Home, first district commissioner, Meru, in 1918. Lambert Papers. [BACK]

5. John Sharman, professor of African linguistics, Institute of African Studies, University of Nairobi, personal communication, July 1970. [BACK]

6. N. Chittick, "Discoveries in the Lamu Archipelago," Anzania 2 (1967):84, and personal communication, 1970. [BACK]

7. Stigand, The Land of Zinj , 48. [BACK]

8. R. Bunger, "Pokomo Political History and Organization," Discussion Paper, Institute of African Studies, University of Nairobi, July 1970, and personal communication, July—December 1970. [BACK]

9. Monro, "Migrations of the Bantu-Speaking Peoples, 25-28. [BACK]

10. Holding, "Some Preliminary Notes on Meru Age Grades," 58-65, suggests that parallel systems of councils operated among females. [BACK]

11. Lambert, "Social and Political Institutions," 439-79, Lambert Papers. [BACK]

12. Mahner, "The Insider and the Outsider," 1-2, and personal communication, July—December 1970. [BACK]

13. Fadiman, "Mountain Witchcraft," 87-101. [BACK]

14. Laughton, "An Introductory Study of the Meru People."

15 Gerrard M'Ikaria (son of a foreteller), MOS 15; M'Anyoni wa Ntangi (former curse-detector), MOS 16; M'Rinkanya M'Ringui (former curse-detector), MOS 17; M'Mwiriria M'Murungi (former bow breaker, i.e., theft detector), MOS 18; Ngaruro M'Munyiri (former oath administrator: "oath of the hot iron"), MOS 19; M'Mukira Gakoro (former curse-remover), MOS 22; all from Imenti. No practitioners of Urogi (cursing) are included: no one in all Meru admitted to having practiced the rituals of Urogi at any time, although everyone believed that others did so. [BACK]