ETHNOLOGY 



and throw over her some money and beads, which 

 her attendants pick up and appropriate. The 

 bridegroom, who has doubtless long been on the 

 watch for the approach of the bridal procession, 

 now endeavours to simulate a becoming modesty, 

 and dissembles his eagerness by pretending to 

 hide. He is soon discovered, however, by the 

 men of the village, and, amid shrieks of laughter, 

 is brought into his lady's presence. They are now 

 made to seat themselves in the midst of the spec- 

 tators, and a dance is organised in which all present 

 join, being rewarded for doing so by the bride- 

 groom. The heads of the contracting parties are 

 now shaved. Immediately thereafter, the man 

 retires to his house, and the bride resigns herself to 

 the ministrations of the ladies of the village, who 

 escort her to her new home, amidst lively manifesta- 

 tions of rejoicing. As she reaches it, she is met by 

 the husband, who usually publicly presents her with 

 various household implements and utensils. They 

 now enter the house together, and the door is closed. 

 Several days afterwards visits are exchanged 

 between the newly married and the family of the 

 bride, when mutual expressions of satisfaction com- 

 plete the contract, which, incidentally, releases the 

 newly married husband from the impoverished con- 

 dition which has been for so long imposed upon him 

 by the necessity for making time-honoured presents 

 during his more or less extended period of betrothal. 

 The custom whereby a newly married man is ex- 

 pected to take up his abode in close proximity to 

 the family of his wife is by no means invariable, as 

 it appears to be in other parts of Africa. 



