Answer:
Achebe and his friends watched the maasquerades of the Nwafor Festival from a 'reasonable distance' because the masquerades troupe carried bundles of whip with them with which they would punish themselves and those they see available.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 'Exploring Expository Writing' the biography of Chinua Achebe, the author narrates the childhood story of Achebe in which he recounts how Achebe and his friends used to watch the masquerades of the Nwafor Festival from distance.
The reason for watching this masquerade performance from distance was that masquerade troupes carried with them a bunch of whips with which they used to punish themselves. They usually punished themselves to prove that they are tough people. Achebe and his friends would not go near them because they would whip those also they see available.