MATRIMONIAL MATCHES. 83 



a girl becomes pregnant before marriage she is taken by her 

 parents to the house of her seducer, and remains there until 

 her child is born. Should she die in childbirth, the seducer is 

 also doomed to die, unless he ransoms himself by payment 

 of six to nine cows. If she remains in health, her father takes 

 her and the child, and the seducer may purchase one or both 

 of them. The price for both amounts to six oxen and four 

 sheep ; for the child alone, if a male, one cow and four sheep ; 

 if a female, only four sheep or goats. 



When two families are on friendly terms, and wish to make 

 a match between their children, the two fathers, in the first 

 place, visit each other twice or thrice to drink mwdnge, and 

 on such occasions many guests are invited. Then the bride's 

 father goes to the father of the bridegroom, and offers him his 

 daughter " for friendship's sake." After this, the price of the 

 bride is discussed and fixed, and a great feast follows, to which 

 both parties contribute. A few days after the stipulated sum 

 has been paid, the bride is fetched in the midst of a large 

 procession ; amidst singing and dancing, and copious libations 

 of mwdnge, the way is taken to the bridegroom's house, where 

 she is handed over to the bridegroom, and the whole com- 

 pany spends the night in singing, dancing, and drinking. 

 The father of the bride receives for himself and his people the 

 two hindquarters of the ox slaughtered on this occasion by the 

 bridegroom's father. On the third day after the completion 

 of the marriage, the whole village assembles to pad the hut 

 of the newly wedded couple with hay, when fresh libations 

 follow. On the sixth day after the wedding, the young wife 

 visits her parents, and during this visit, of three or four 

 days' duration, the husband keeps aloof. Fresh symposia 

 given by the father of the bride bring the ceremonies to a 

 conclusion. The young wife then returns to her house, and 

 if her husband is in good circumstances, passes her time in 

 smoking, coffee-chewing, idling, and paying visits. 



When a woman is pregnant and labour commences, all the 

 women of experience are summoned to assist her. She sits 011 

 her heels, her knees stretched apart, while one or two women 

 support her back and arms, and the midwife sits in front of her, 

 ready to receive the child. The delivery is promoted by rub- 



