The Sambia believe "maleness is weak and tenuous essence that does not naturally produce adult masculinity. Unless men intervened with ritual procedures that protect boys from female contamination, boys stay small and weak and ultimately die. Only through oral homosexual inseminations that artificially create maleness are boys believe to attain adult male." Jerungdu is that male essence. Physically, it's the semen. But there are many other meanings and levels to Jerungdu. In this discussion pull from the book (with citations and page numbers) the various meanings and importance of Jerungdu to Sambian masculinity.**