270 PRIMITIVE PATERNITY 



customs of the Mande of Bonduku are similar. The 

 girl chooses her bon ami at the age of nine or ten : 

 she prepares his food and passes every night with him. 

 In these circumstances, despite the possibility of a 

 sound thrashing by the bridegroom when he finds that 

 he has been anticipated, the temptation must be such 

 as a Negro temperament can hardly resist. Among the 

 Mande, moreover, although in theory impuberty con- 

 stitutes a bar to marriage, in practice there is no such 

 hindrance to it. As among the Abrons, the only real 

 obstacle is the bride's desire to preserve her freedom 

 as long as possible ; and means are doubtless found to 

 overcome her resistance. 1 In the kingdom of Bouna 

 there is no minimum age. A boy is marriageable as 

 soon as he has been circumcised, and a girl imme- 

 diately after suffering the corresponding operation. 

 These rites are performed at different ages according 

 to convenience. 2 Nor in Seguela is there any down- 

 ward limit of age ; as soon as the bride-price is paid 

 the husband can have possession. To be sure the 

 consent of the bride is required by law ; but her father 

 obtains that by hook or by crook. 3 Among the 

 Alladians the bride must be delivered to her husband 

 before the first menstruation. In practice betrothal 

 often takes place while very young. From the 

 moment it is completed by a small gift to the head of 

 the girl's family, her father and her mother, the bride- 

 groom is liable to her maintenance. Naturally there- 

 fore he expects possession with the least possible 

 delay ; and it is given as soon as she is deemed strong 

 enough. 4 The Bagos on the River Nunez, unite 



i Clozel, 279, 280. 2 Ibid. 309. 



3 Ibid. 329. * Ibid. 394, 393. 



