96 MARRIAGE OF THE NATIVES. 



of the muscles, accompanied with similar action 

 of the muscles of the face, and hop about until 

 they fall down breathless from exertion. 



The marriage of the natives is merely a civil 

 compact, to be dissolved when the man thinks 

 proper. If a pagan pays his addresses to a girl, 

 and after a short time finds she is " all his fancy 

 painted her," he sends the parents a present of 

 cloth, an elephant's tooth, probably some cow- 

 ries, or anything he may happen to have by him 

 at the time. If these articles are accepted, and 

 the father considers them an equivalent for the 

 loss of his daughter's services, the girl leaves her 

 father's house, and if a virgin, she is covered 

 round her loins with a shawl or cloth, presented 

 by her lover, having worn nothing but a piece 

 of leather or a few strings of cowries round the 

 loins previously : dancing takes place, palm- 

 wine and beer are drunk, and all are happy for 

 a time. Should the man in the course of time 

 become tired of the girl, he sends her home, 

 giving her some small present. 



According to Lander's account, Kano is a 

 place of considerable importance : the indigo 

 manufactured by the inhabitants has the reputa- 

 tion of producing a richer and more permanent 



