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Okonkwo returned from the bush carrying on his left shoulder a large bundle of grasses and leaves； roots and barks of medicinal trees and shrubs。 He went into Ekwefi's hut； put down his load and sat down。
〃Get me a pot；〃 he said； 〃and leave the child alone。〃
Ekwefi went to bring the pot and Okonkwo selected the best from his bundle； in their due proportions； and cut them up。 He put them in the pot and Ekwefi poured in some water。
〃Is that enough？〃 she asked when she had poured in about half of the water in the bowl。
〃A little more… I said a little。 Are you deaf？〃 Okonkwo roared at her。
She set the pot on the fire and Okonkwo took up his machete to return to his obi。
〃You must watch the pot carefully；〃 he said as he went； 〃and don't allow it to boil over。 If it does its power will be gone。〃 He went away to his hut and Ekwefi began to tend the medicine pot almost as if it was itself a sick child。 Her eyes went constantly from Ezinma to the boiling pot and back to Ezinma。
Okonkwo returned when he felt the medicine had cooked long anough。 He looked it over and said it was done。
〃Bring me a low stool for Ezinma；〃 he said； 〃and a thick mat。〃
He took down the pot from the fire and placed it in front of the stool。 He then roused Ezinma and placed her on the stool； astride the steaming pot。 The thick mat was thrown over both。 Ezinma struggled to escape from the choking and overpowering steam； but she was held down。 She started to cry。
When the mat was at last removed she was drenched in perspiration。 Ekwefi mopped her with a piece of cloth and she lay down on a dry mat and was soon asleep。
CHAPTER TEN
Large crowds began to gather on the village ilo as soon as the edge had worn off the sun's heat and it was no longer painful on the body。 Most munal ceremonies took place at that time of the day； so that even when it was said that a ceremony would begin 〃after the midday meal〃 everyone understood that it would begin a long time later； when the sun's heat had softened。
It was clear from the way the crowd stood or sat that the ceremony was for men。 There were many women； but they looked on from the fringe like outsiders。 The titled men and elders sat on their stools waiting for the trials to begin。 In front of them was a row of stools on which nobody sat。 There were nine of them。 Two little groups of people stood at a respectable distance beyond the stools。 They faced the elders。 There were three men in one group and three men and one woman in the other。 The woman was Mgbafo and the three men with her were her brothers。 In the other group were her husband； Uzowulu； and his relatives。 Mgbafo and her brothers were as still as statues into whose faces the artist has molded defiance。 Uzowulu and his relative； on the other hand； were whispering together。 It looked like whispering； but they were really talking at the top of their voices。 Everybody in the crowd was talking。 It was like the market。 From a distance the noise was a deep rumble carried by the wind。
An iron gong sounded； setting up a wave of expectation in the crowd。 Everyone looked in the direction of the egwugwu house。 Gome； gome； gome； gome went the gong； and a powerful flute blew a high…pitched blast。 Then came the voices of the egwugwu； guttural and awesome。 The wave struck the women and children and there was a backward stampede。 But it was momentary。 They were already far enough where they stood and there was room for running away if any of them should go towards them。
The drum sounded again and the flute blew。 The house was now a pandemonium of quavering voices： Am oyim de de de de！ filled the air as the spirits of the ancestors； just emerged from the earth； greeted themselves in their esoteric language。 The egwugwu house into which they emerged faced the forest； away from the crowd； who saw only its back with the many…colored patterns and drawings done by specially chosen women at regular intervals。 These women never saw the inside of the hut。 No woman ever did。 They scrubbed and painted the outside walls under the supervision of men。 If they imagined what was inside； they kept their imagination to themselves。 No woman ever asked questions about the most powerful and the most secret cult in the clan。
Am oyim de de de de！ flew around the dark； closed hut like tongues of fire。 The ancestral spirits of the clan were abroad。
The metal gong beat continuously now and the flute； shrill and powerful； floated on the chaos。
And then the egwugwu appeared。 The women and children sent up a great shout and took to their heels。 It was instinctive。 A woman fled as soon as an egwugwu came in sight。 And when； as on that day； nine of the greatest masked spirits in the clan came out together it was a terrifying spectacle。 Even Mgbafo took to her heels and had to be restrained by her brothers。
Each of the nine egwugwu represented a village of the clan。 Their leader was called Evil Forest。 Smoke poured out of his head。
The nine villages of Umuofia had grown out of the nine sons of the first father of the clan。 Evil Forest represented the village of Umueru； or the children of Eru； who was the eldest of the nine sons。
〃Umuofia kwenu！〃 shouted the leading egwugwu； pushing the air with his raffia arms。 The elders of the clan replied； 〃Yaa！〃
。〃Umuofia kwenu！〃
〃Yaa！〃
〃Umuofia kwenu！〃
〃Yaa！〃
Evil Forest then thrust the pointed end of his rattling staff into the earth。 And it began to shake and rattle； like something agitating with a metallic life。 He took the first of the empty stools and the eight other egwugwu began to sit in order of seniority after him。
Okonkwo's wives； and perhaps other women as well； might have noticed that the second egwugwu had the springy
walk of Okonkwo。 And they might also have noticed that Okonkwo was not among the titled men and elders who sat behind the row of egwugwu。 But if they thought these things they kept them within themselves。 The egwugwu with the springy walk was one of the dead fathers of the clan。 He looked terrible with the smoked raffia 〃body； a huge wooden face painted white except for the round hollow eyes and the charred teeth that were as big as a man's fingers。 On his head were two powerful horns。
When all the egwugwu had sat down and the sound of the many tiny bells and rattles on their bodies had subsided； Evil Forest addressed the two groups of people facing them。
〃Uzowulu's body； I salute you；〃 he said。 Spirits always addressed humans as 〃bodies。〃 Uzowulu bent down and touched the earth with his right hand as a sign of submission。
〃Our father； my hand has touched the ground；〃 he said。
〃Uzowulu's body； do you know me？〃 asked the spirit。
〃How can I know you； father？ You are beyond our knowledge。〃
Evil Forest then turned to the other group and addressed the eldest of the three brothers。
〃The body of Odukwe； I greet you；〃 he said； and Odukwe bent down and touched the earth。 The hearing then began。
Uzowulu stepped forward and presented his case。
〃That woman standing there is my wife； Mgbafo。 I married her with my money and my yams。 I do not owe my inlaws anything。 I owe them