Kholuka masks were sometimes decorated with figures that look like marionettes. The artists had plenty of freedom in the choice of subject and thus had the opportunity to prove their originality. For instance, a frog or toad is found atop this kholuka mask. In the stories of the Yaka, these amphibians were regarded as arrogant and impatient creatures — qualities that the circumcised boys were warned against – that tried to deceive God in order to get a tail more quickly than the other animals. As punishment, they did not get a tail at all.