86 A DESCRIPTION OF THE WANYORO. 



If a man marries, and his wife falls ill and dies during a 

 visit to her father's house, the husband either demands a 

 wife — a sister of the deceased — in compensation, or receives 

 two cows. There are instances of a man putting away his 

 wife and afterwards taking her back again, a cow being 

 killed on her return. When a poor man is unable to procure 

 the cattle required for his marriage at once, he may, by agree- 

 ment with the bride's father, pay them by instalments ; the 

 children, however, born in the meantime belong to the wife's 

 father, and each of them must be redeemed with a cow. 



Should the head of a house die without children, his 

 brother inherits everything, even the wives ; if there are 

 several brothers, the younger ones receive small shares in 

 goods and wives, according to the good pleasure of the eldest, 

 who is the chief heir. When there are no brothers, the chief 

 of the tribe inherits. But when there are sons, the eldest 

 inherits all that is left by his father, the wives included, who, 

 with the exception of his own mother, become his wives. The 

 younger sons receive two women, two cows, and as much of 

 the other property as the principal heir will give them. Wives 

 and daughters have no share in the inheritance under any 

 circumstances. If at the death of the head of the house there 

 is a daughter left under age, the principal heir brings her up,, 

 and marries her. In default of male relations, the chief of the 

 tribe fills their place, and usually takes such girls into his 

 harem. 



Theft is punished in Unyoro by confiscation of cattle or 

 women for the benefit of the person robbed. When a man 

 is killed, the nearest relatives of the murdered man have the 

 right to seize the murderer and kill him with a spear, and 

 they receive, besides, a cow from the family of the murderer. 

 But should the murderer escape, and they apply to the chief 

 of the tribe to procure the punishment of the guilty man, 

 the chief receives from them nine cows and three sheep or 

 goats as his due, in return for which he causes the murderer 

 to be seized and killed, and exacts payment of the cow. 

 Adultery, provided the injured man surprises the offender, is 

 atoned for by a fine of four cows. If the chief is called upon 

 to interfere he receives a cow. The guilty wife is beaten, and 



