Horns of cattle are hammered and twisted into all kinds of fantastic shapes. An ox with one horn pointing forwards and the other backwards, called kamar, is an object of envy and admiration to all. Such an ox evidently is credited with exceptional properties. Every fighting man should have his kamar; those who do not possess one are taunted. When preparing to start on a raiding expedition the kamar-tin are collected, bedecked with ostrich feathers, and sent to the river where the warriors collect. These latter dance round them and flap their hands at them, and kneeling on one knee they hold up their shields in an attitude of defense and brandish their spears at them, the while uttering a weird war cry, which is supposed to excite in the faint-hearted the desire of battle. A captured kamar is a coveted prize and is slaughtered and eaten with much ceremony.¹

Seligman has made a study of the distribution of this practice and reproduced drawings from present-day tribes and ancient Egyptian reliefs showing a practical identity.²

¹Beech, M.W. H.n/an/an/an/a, , 8–9 (Clarendon Press. By permission).

² Seligman, C. G., "Egyptian Influence in Negro Africa," in Studies Presented to F. Ll. Griffith.