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UNDER THE AFRICAN SUN 



threatened, that if he picked out the worst in his flock, I should 

 certainly decide on the simpler settlement of payment by one 

 cow which his divorced lady should have the right to select. 

 Imam brought five beautiful animals ; and wiping the per- 

 spiration off his face, he eagerly entreated the woman to accept 

 them and to depart. With natives, when once the parties to a 

 purchase or contract have accepted and separated, the trans- 

 action is supposed to be binding and it cannot be annulled. 



Hence his hurry to get her to 

 accept and go. On my second 

 visit to Kibero, Imam had 

 already filled the vacancy in 

 his household by marrying 

 another. In the meantime his 

 divorced lady, the wealthy 

 possessor of three sheep and 

 two goats, notwithstanding her 

 having flung the dinner at 

 her previous husband's head, 

 had also had offers, and having 

 decided which to accept, she 

 too felt consoled. 



The humbler class of Souda- 

 nese women and girls still wear 

 the " raha," or petticoat of 

 plaited strings. It is really 

 their national costume. This 

 "raha" consists of a number 

 of plaited strings falling in a 

 SOUDANESE. double or treble row from 



the encircling waist-belt. At 

 first sight this dress would scarcely seem as good a clothing as 

 leaves, but in realitv it is one of the most effectual coverings I 

 have yet met with amongst African races. For whether they 

 stand, walk, run, sit, kneel, or stoop, the strings will always fall 

 around them gracefully. 



All the hard work in connection with the food question is 

 performed by women. They clear the patch of jungle which 

 is to be the field, they till the soil, they plant, they weed, 

 and they gather in the harvest. They prepare the native brew, 

 they distil the native whisky, they look a,fter the poultry, and 



