The Bubis, or Fjdeeyah of Fernando Po. 239 



belief entertained by many of them, that the rupi visits the 

 peak occasionally (when, they say, fire is seen), it is difficult 

 to ascertain. 



The whole term of mourning, or remembrance of the de- 

 parted, is one month, or twenty-eight suns or days, during 

 which the relatives assemble in one place, where they eat 

 together, and drink the fermented topi or palm wine. Thus, 

 though held to be a period of mourning, it is rather one of 

 great rejoicing. At the end of the month, four of the sons 

 — if the deceased has that number, or, if unmarried, four re- 

 latives — are obliged to go out hunting to procure the favourite 

 food of the Edeeyah, the bush pig, which, when cooked in a 

 small earthen vessel, is partaken of by those only who were 

 engaged in the hunt; after which, some of it, with yam and 

 palm-oil and topi, are placed on the grave for the supposed 

 use of the dead. To touch the foot of a deceased person is 

 considered a most unfortunate and distressing circumstance, 

 and almost certain to be followed by the death or some sad 

 calamity of the party, and that very immediately. Their rude 

 ornaments are buried with them. The money (a small spe- 

 cies of patella), as also the yams or other property, are di- 

 vided equally among all the children, if he has any ; if not, 

 among the other relatives. 



Like the Jews, and some other eastern nations, the Edee- 

 yahs have a system of betrothal, which must continue for 

 two years before sexual connection is permitted, during 

 which time, the aspirant to the fair possession is obliged to 

 perform all the labour which would otherwise fall on his in- 

 tended wife, viz., planting yams, cari-ying wiiter, palm-oil, &c. 

 This is only observed in the case of the first wife. The 

 courtship or betrothal commences generally at thii'teen or 

 fourteen years of age, but connection is not permitted until 

 the conclusion of the two years ; and should frail nature yield 

 before the specified time, the offence is treated as seduction, 

 and the youth severely punished, as well as exacting heavy 

 fines from the offender's relatives. Indeed, to seduce an 

 Edeeyah girl is one of the most serious off"ences ; and tliey 

 sometimes even destroy the dwelling of the relatives, as well 

 as seizing their yams and other propei'ty. Ai'ter the term of 



