282 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTEAL AFRICA 



to his wealth. Half of this the mother gives to her 

 relations, and to her daughter she gives household 

 utensils. The father seems to play very little part in 

 his daughter's matrimonial affairs. 



On the birth of a child a husband gives his wife a 

 present — if he is poor, a piece of cloth ; if he is rich, a 

 goat, sheep, or even more. For the first seven days he 

 gives her two fowls to eat every day, so that she may 

 become strong, and she is also given vinegar, honey, 

 and pepper at frequent intervals. Morning and night 

 time she is washed with warm water, and she has a fire 

 in her house and does not come out. On the eighth 

 day the infant is named. Only the Mallamai go into 

 the mosque, but the relations gather outside. "Plenty 

 chop " is brought to the entrance, including a sheep or 

 a goat, and there the food is distributed — part to the 

 men and part to the women, who eat it in different 

 places — " and all the people of the town rejoice." 



Men and women, even in their home circles, never 

 eat together, and the law extends beyond this, for 

 certain foods are also forbidden. No one may eat 

 swine, monkeys, or dogs, and women are especially 

 forbidden lion, leopard, or hyena. 



Nearly four weeks had now elapsed, and though Mr 

 Talbot's back was still painful and movement difficult, 

 he would not listen to our exhortations to rest longer ; 

 and, in obedience to a summons to his duties in 

 Southern Nigeria, made preparations for an immediate 

 start. So much time had elapsed that the Mallam, 

 who was to have come to Kano with us, had in con- 

 sequence of our delay to alter his plans and take the 

 Government taxes direct to Gujiba instead. 



The Chief of Fika is responsible for a sum that 



