MARITAL JEALOUSY 117 



a Negress. . . . They have no words or expres- 

 sions in their language indicative of affection or love. 

 Their passion is purely of an animal description, 

 unaccompanied by the least sympathetic affections of 

 love or endearment. It is not astonishing, therefore, 

 jealousy should hardly exist ; the greatest breach of 

 conduct on the part of a married woman is but little 

 thought of. The husband by their laws can at most 

 return his wife to her father, who has to refund the 

 present he received on her marriage ; but this extreme 

 penalty is seldom resorted to, fining the paramour 

 being considered a sufficient satisfaction. The fine is 

 generally a pig and rum or other drink, with which a 

 feast is celebrated by all parties. The woman is not 

 punished in any way, nor does any disgrace attach to 

 her conduct. Adultery on the part of the husband is 

 not considered an offence at all, and is not even 

 resented by the wives. It might be imagined that 

 this lax state of things would lead to much immorality ; 

 but such is not the case, as from their utter want of 

 love and appreciation of female beauty or charms they 

 are quite satisfied and content with any woman 

 possessing even the greatest amount of the hideous 

 ugliness with which nature has so bountifully provided 

 them. Even for their offspring they have but little 

 love beyond that which is implanted in all animals for 

 their young." 1 Post cites an old Italian writer for the 

 statement that it was quite customary in Angola 

 Ginga Cassange and Congo to lend and exchange 

 wives, and other writers aver the same of the 

 Mpongwe. 2 



Islam has made much progress among the peoples 

 1 Monteiro, i. 243. a Post, Afr.Jur. i. 471, 472. 



