Titr. Fatk ok rriK Wioows AMovfisT iiik li.v-itoXfJA. 309 



lot ; slie has been taken when tlie fatlier whs alicady old, and the first 

 son is perhaps older tlian she. As regards the elder wives, the first 

 and the second especially, one would ne\er think of keepinj^ tiieni for 

 the son! Incestuous relations are very rare amongst the F^a-Uonga. 

 Even in this case the feelings of both parties are more or less respected. 

 The men advise the son to begin to p]a\' with the young widow, to ask 

 her for tobacco in joking, and" he accustoms hiniself to c(»nsider her no 

 longer as a mother (mnviaan), but as a wife (iiKafi). 



Of course the general rule is apt to be very much altered according 

 to circumstances. Shoul<l the deceased be the younger of the family, 

 his elder brother can be the heir of tlie first wife. But it is not the 

 regular course. 



The repartition having thus been decided, the sisters of the deceased 

 call the widows and tell tliem : "You, so and so, you shall give food to 

 so and so (phnmeln mani/ana)." But then begins the fight. One of 

 the widows, being old, might refuse altogether to have connection with 

 anv of her brothers-in-law. She might say : " I am taking my young- 

 son as husband," which means : ' 1 do not want to be the wife of 

 anybodv." Or she will say : " I choose the big tree of the village 

 where mv late husband has built his hut." This answer may meaiii 

 two things. Either, I do not leave this kraal, and will stay here with- 

 out husband ; or, on the contrary, I consent to be the wife of the man 

 who becomes the headman of the village, viz., the elder of the younger 

 brothers. Another will say : " I love my nfnkiilu so and so." Should, 

 however, the first wife pretend to go to a man who does not live in 

 the village, the family council will certainly object strongly to her 

 wish, as her departure would mean the disappearance of the village. 

 But in the case of younger widows it is quite possible that an ex- 

 cepti<.>n to the ordinary law will be allowed if they insist in choosing 

 another husband.* 



After all, this is but a preconsultation, and the men who are re- 

 joicing at the idea of getting a new wife will perhaps be badly deceived 

 later on, as we shall see. 



(5) The Castin(4 awav of the Malediction of Death. 



But before a ne^\ and happj- life begins again for the widows 

 they have still to go through a ver^' hard trial. They must perform 



* What would he the case should the widow choose a husband outside of 

 the fuiiiily of her husband ? Tf) the mind of a heathen woman the idiiii would 

 never occur. But suppose a C'liristian widow, having only married suitors, re- 

 fusing to liecome tiieir wife because of iier conscience forbiddinj; lier to con- 

 tract u polyiiramic union. Her case would be very liard indeed, as I do not 

 think her wislj would be taken into consideration by heatlien relatives. It 

 would have to be bi-ought before tlie wiiite magistrate, who would i>rol»al)ly 

 try to iielp the widow. I think tliat even if the woman consented to submit Ui 

 the European court such fanuly matters, she would have to j;ive the liilmhi uv 

 her chihhen back to her brotliers-in law. and that mij^lit be an impossil>ility 

 for her. It would be interesting: to know iiow native couunissioners proceed in 

 such cases. 



