60 PRIMITIVE PATERNITY 



home. 1 The northern Wanyamwezi are still in the 

 stage of motherright, but matrilineal customs are in 

 decay elsewhere. Whether in the north or the south, 

 however, the husband goes to dwell at his wife's 

 home. 2 Among the Banyai on the Zambesi "when 

 a young man takes a liking to a girl of another village 

 and the parents have no objection to the match he is 

 obliged to come and live at their village. He has to 

 perform certain services for the mother-in-law, such as 

 keeping her well supplied with firewood ; and when he 

 comes into her presence he is obliged to sit with his 

 knees in a bent position, as putting out his feet 

 towards the old lady would give her great offence. 

 If he becomes tired of living in this state of vassalage 

 and wishes to return to his own family he is obliged 

 to leave all his children behind they belong to 

 his wife." But it seems that on payment of a bride- 

 price the right to the wife and children would be 

 transferred to the husband. 3 Among the Bambala as 

 we have seen fatherright is beginning to supersede the 

 older organisation. Still a man very often takes up 

 his abode in his father-in-law's village. The father- 

 in-law in fact assumes in his life importance para- 

 mount even over his own father, and he will fight for 

 him and his village against his own. 4 Among the 

 Hottentots women were treated with high respect. The 



1 J. A I. xxxiv. 151. 



2 Burton, Lake Regions, ii. 24. Sir H. H. Johnston (Brit. Cent. 

 Afr. 413, 415, 412) reports the custom of the husband's going to 

 live at the wife's village as characteristic of the Atonga and generally 

 of the tribes of Southern Nyassaland, except the Wankonde, though 

 marriage by capture is by no means unknown. 



3 Livingstone, Miss. Trav. 622. 

 * J. A. I. xxxv. 410, 399. 



