878 



MASAI, TURKANA, SUK, NANDI, ETC. 



stick in the middle portion of its length, and forms a string, which is 

 drawn over the two small bridges. Their songs and dances are much 

 like those of the Masai. 



The condition of ivomen amongst these tribes is pretty much the 



same as with the pastoral Masai. The 

 immature girls live with the young fighting 

 men until they reach womanhood. If by 

 chance one of these unmarried girls has a 

 child by a warrior during this intercourse, 

 she strangles it as soon as it is born. In 

 such a case the young man who is the 

 father of the child must present the girl 

 with a goat, and also give another goat to 

 her father. Marriage is generally arranged 

 by the father and mother of the bridegroom, 

 who negotiate with the girl's parents. The 

 price paid to the father of the bride among 

 the Nandi is four goats, a fowl, and a cow. 

 Mr. Isaac, however, states that among the 

 wealthier Elgeyo the marriage fee is six 

 head of cattle and five goats. All the 

 Nandi-speaking tribes freely intermarry with 

 each other and with the Masai, but not 

 with their Bantu neighbours, the Kavirondo. 

 As soon as the girl's father has consented 

 to the match, the bridegroom proceeds to 

 his house, accompanied by his own parents. 

 Three days afterwards all the party return 

 to the bridegroom's village, together with 

 the girl. Here they stay for three days, 

 while there is feasting and dancing. On 

 the third day a house which they have 

 been building is usually ready for the re- 

 ception of the married couple, who then 

 move into it. The marriage is not con- 

 summated until the couple take possession 

 of their own house. Should a woman prove barren, the marriage fee 

 paid to her father is returned, and she goes back to her own home. 



The birth of twins is considered lucky, but, at the same time, to be 

 rather a tempting of Providence ; and a woman who bears twins must live 

 away from her husband's village for some months, and on no account go 

 near the kraal where the cattle are kept. One cow, however, is specially 



501. SWORD ("SIME") AND SCABBARD 

 AND LONG SPEAR OF EASTERN 

 ANDOROBO 



