THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 315 



placed in a hut alone and anointed with various unguents, and 

 many incantations are employed in order to secure good fortune 

 and faithfulness. Here, as almost everywhere in the south, the 

 height of good fortune is to bear sons. They often leave a 

 husband altogether if they have daughters only. In their dances, 

 when any one may wish to deride another, in the accompanying 

 song a line is introduced, " So-and-so has no children, and never 

 will get any." She feels the insult so keenly that it is not 

 uncommon for her to rush away and commit suicide. After some 

 days the bride elect is taken to another hut, and adorned with all 

 the richest clothing and ornaments that the relatives can either 

 lend or borrow. She is then placed in a public situation, saluted 

 as a lady, and presents made by all her acquaintances are placed 

 around her. After this she is taken to the residence of her hus- 

 band, where slie has a hut for herself, and becomes one of several 

 wives, for polygamy is general. Dancing, feasting, and drinking 

 on such occasions are prolonged for several days. In case of 

 separation, the woman returns to her father's family, and the 

 husband receives back what he gave for her. In nearly all cases 

 a man gives a high price for a wife, and in case of mulattoes, as 

 much as $300 are often given to the parents of the bride. 



In cases of death the body is kept several days, and there is a 

 grand concourse of both sexes, with beating of drums, dances, 

 and debauchery, kept up with feasting, etc., according to the 

 means of the relatives. The great ambition of many of the 

 blacks of Angola is to give their friends an expensive funeral. 

 Often, when one is asked to sell a pig, he replies, " I am keeping 

 it in case of the death of any of my friends." A pig is usually 

 slaughtered and eaten on the last day of the ceremonies, and its 

 head thrown into the nearest stream or river. A native will 

 sometimes appear intoxicated on these occasions, and, if blamed 

 for his intemperance, will reply, "Why ! my mother is dead !" 

 as if he thought it a sufficient justification. The expenses of 

 funerals are so heavy that often years elapse before they can 

 defray them. 



