|Xam !goin !goin bee-control bullroarer

!goin !goin

Source term: bullroarer

!goin !goin (|Xam): a bullroarer — a blade of wood on a little stick, whirled in the hand to produce a buzzing sound likened to bees.

The |Xam beat the !goin !goin — a wooden blade on a little stick, whirled to a low whirring likened to swarming bees — so bees would grow abundant and move into other people's places, leaving honey to be cut, bagged, carried home, and shared. Its buzzing opened into a dance: the men danced, one woman drummed, and the other women clapped. Women swung it as well as men, and at times many swung together to bring rain.

the bees may go into the other people's places, that the people may eat honey

Bleek and Lloyd, Specimens of Bushman Folklore (1911), p. 355

Particulars

Object

Two measured wooden !goin !goin blades, 32.3 and 34 cm long, attached by a once-twisted 40.5 cm cord to a short hand-held stick; the exact |Xam plate preserves the complete rig.

Function

Whirled so bees would move elsewhere, leaving honey to cut, bag, carry home, and share; also used in rain-making.