THE MONDOMBE TRIBE 130 



their hair in ringlets plaited with beads, and wear 

 heavy bead collars round their necks. In this 

 tribe, and especially in the southern part of the 

 country, there exists the curious custom of daub- 

 ing clay or ashes over prospective brides, who are 

 then given great freedom and allowed to wander 

 about and visit their friends. 



A curious Mondombe custom is the planting of 

 a banana tree at the time of marriage. If no child 

 is born in the year which it takes for the plant 

 to bear fruit, the husband may dissolve the 

 marriage. 



