The Sherbro and its hinterland . ued) THE YASSI The Yassi Society belongs both to the Sherbro andMendi countries. Apparently in a measure it works con-jointly with the Bundu Society ; but while it is professedlya society for women, it does not object to the admission ofmen of the social Poro order at some of its meetings. Undercertain conditions, indeed, it becomes even imperativ^e thatthey should be initiated into the mysteries surrounding itbefore they can be allowed to enter the Yassi house forthe purpose of coming under the influence and treatment ofthe Yassi medicine, when they may have b
The Sherbro and its hinterland . ued) THE YASSI The Yassi Society belongs both to the Sherbro andMendi countries. Apparently in a measure it works con-jointly with the Bundu Society ; but while it is professedlya society for women, it does not object to the admission ofmen of the social Poro order at some of its meetings. Undercertain conditions, indeed, it becomes even imperativ^e thatthey should be initiated into the mysteries surrounding itbefore they can be allowed to enter the Yassi house forthe purpose of coming under the influence and treatment ofthe Yassi medicine, when they may have been attackedby it. All Yassi women must also be Bundu women,although Bundu women need not necessarily belong tothe Yassi. The supreme head of the order is the MamaBehku ; the next in importance is the Yamama, followedby Kambehs of different positions—the Kambeh Mambu,the Kambeh Kehwai, Kambeh Maba, and Kambeh last is also the sword-bearer. There are three mendrummers, who perform upon a long wooden drum, yio face page 145. ^iy- 49-—Back View of the Three Kambehs shown in Fig. 46. CH. XV SECRET SOCIETIES 145 Spots are the outward distinguishing sign of this re-markable Yassi order ;—everything must be spotted, thehouse, the Kambehs, the sword, the drum, everythingmust be spotted, excepting the wooden Minsereh figures,which are entirely black. These spots are simply patchesof coloured wash—white, black, yellow, and brown—andare indiscriminately put on. The Minsereh images (Figure 51) are always femalefigures, and perform a very important part in the workingof the fetish ; as it is through them that the information isto be supplied in respect to any matter which may bebrought forward. The Yassi medicine house is alwayslocated within a town or fakai, and is known to all bycoloured spots daubed over it, whereas the Bundu locationis a secret place in the bush. There seems to be no distinctive barbaric costume ;indeed at certain ceremonies it would ap
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