90 DEL AGO A BAY. 



and recrimination between the two families about 

 the merits and demerits of the betrothed couple, 

 the mau's family insisting that the girl is not 

 worth the money paid for her, that she is not 

 well-born, or is lazy, or cannot work, and her 

 family in return disparaging the bridegroom in 

 every possible way. 



After the storm of abuse has died away the 

 girls bring the bride from her hut covered with 

 a capalane from head to foot, clasping their hands 

 over her head, and surrounding her so closely 

 that they completely hide her from sight. In 

 this fashion they move along very slowly, sing- 

 ing and chanting all the time. When they come 

 to the centre of the kraal the bride sits down, 

 still closely veiled, and commences the " crying." 

 The bridegroom then leaves his hut and sits 

 down near her, but in such a position that they 

 are unable to look at each other, the girls grouped 

 on the side of the bride, and the young men on 

 the side of the bridegroom, it being customary 

 in all gatherings for the men and women to keep 

 apart. While they are seated thus the black goat 



