The ǀXam did not practice either male or female circumcision and there is nothing in the collected texts to suggest that boys or young men were subjected to any special rite connected with puberty. There were certain foods that young unmarried men should avoid and these were the same as some of those avoided by young girls, notably several reptiles. Young men also had to avoid using the names of certain animals by employing respect words. By contrast, however, girls received a great deal of attention at this time (D.F. Bleek 1931–36, Part VII, p. 303; L. V, (6), pp. 4389 rev.–90 rev.).

At the onset of her first menses a girl's mother would build her a hut (hut-building being a task reserved for the wife/mother of the family);1 it was set apart from the others and was only large enough to be occupied by one person in a prone position. The girl was taken to the hut by her mother who closed up the entrance upon her. Ritual confinement lasted until the first new moon and although she might leave the hut for defecation she had to avoid contact of any kind with anyone except her mother, keep her eyes downcast and return immediately (L. VIII, (12), pp. 7111 rev.–12 rev.; L. V, (1), pp. 3997–4002; Bleek & Lloyd 1911: 76f).

The girl was brought her food and water by her mother but she was deprived of normal sized rations. Cooked food was taken to her cut up into very small portions and was handed to her through the entrance. Water was also strictly limited. She was handed a perforated ostrich eggshell containing water but the hole was not as large as was usual and furthermore had a very thin reed inserted into it through which she was expected to drink. This greatly limited the amount of water she was able to sip. The water was administered to her as it would be to a very young child and was taken away afterwards not left (L. V, pp. 3875–80).

Not only was her food limited in quantity, it was also limited in kind. Certain edible roots were strictly forbidden her as were some meats and some parts of certain animals.