CHAPTER XX 



POLITICAL ORGANIZATION: CUSTOMS REGULATING DOMESTIC 

 RELATIONS AND FAMILY PROPERTY; PROCEDURE FOR THE 

 ATTAINMENT OF JUSTICE 



FAMILY PROPERTY 



The property of a Man6bo family is so scanty that the rules governing it have never devel- 

 oped beyond a primitive stage. The house belongs collectively to the father and to such of his 

 sons-in-law and brothers-in-law as may have constructed it. The structure represents little 

 value to the owner except that of the rough-hewn boards which may be transported to another 

 place. The reason that such cheap houses are built is that they may be abandoned without much 

 loss at any moment that a death, or even a suspicion of danger, arising from religious or from 

 natural reasons, may dictate. 



The movable property in the house belongs to the individuals who have made, purchased, 

 or in any other lawful way acquired it. In this respect it is to be noted that each married couple 

 provides itself with household utensils and such other things as may be necessary. These things 

 do not become the property of the head of the family, but remain the individual property of the 

 person who brings them. 



It must be noted, too, that women, children, and slaves have theoretically no right to owner- 

 ship. It is true that women are allowed to dispose of the products of their labor like rice and 

 cloth, but usually, if not always, the consent of their husbands or of their husbands' nearest male 

 relatives is first secured if the article is of much value. Frequently a consultation is held with 

 the head of the whole household. 



RULES OF INHERITANCE 



When a man dies and leaves no near relatives that are of sufficient age to manage the inherit- 

 ance, the elder brother-in-law inherits the property. The deceased brother's wife is a part of 

 this property. When the father dies, the son is the heir, and, if of sufficient age and capabilities, 

 takes the place of his father. But should he be deemed incompetent by his near male relatives, 

 his paternal uncle, or, if he has none, a brother-in-law, becomes the manager of the household. 

 Any property which may be of value is thus retained within the line of male descent. This is 

 in accordance with the principles of the patriarchate system which prevails in Manoboland. 



The eldest son inherits his father's debts, but the administrator (if in such unpretentious 

 matters we may use so pretentious a word) pays the debts collecting in turn from the son unless 

 he be a near kinsman of the deceased father. About matters of inheritance I have never even 

 heard of a dispute. The valuable property may consist of only a lance and a bolo, or a dagger, 

 and a few jars. The best suit of clothes together with personal adornments, such as necklaces, 

 are carried with the deceased to his last resting place so that there is little left to quarrel over. 

 With the exception of the few heirlooms, if there be any, consisting of a jar and some few other 

 things, the greatest fear is entertained of articles that belonged to the departed one. This fear 

 is due to the peculiar belief in the subtle, wayward feeling of the departed toward the living. 



RULES GOVERNING THE RELATIONS OF THE SEXES 



MORAL OFFENSES 



In the chapter on marriage the general principles governing the relations of the sexes is 

 set forth. The relations both antenuptial and postnuptial are of the most stringent character. 



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