622 WOMAN'S EIGHTS. Chap. XXX. 



Barotse, for instance, pour the medicine down the throat of a 

 cock or of a dog, and judge of the innocence or guilt of the 

 person accused, according to the vomiting or purging of the ani- 

 mal. I happened to mention to my own men the water-test for 

 witches formerly in use in Scotland : the supposed witch, being 

 bound hand and foot, was thrown into a pond ; if she floated, she 

 was considered guilty, taken out, and burned ; but if she sank 

 and was drowned, she was pronounced innocent. The wisdom of 

 my ancestors excited as much wonder in their minds, as their 

 custom did in mine. 



The person whom Nyakoba appointed to be our guide, having 

 informed us of the decision, came and bargained that his services 

 should be rewarded with a hoe. I had no objection to give it, 

 and showed him the article ; he Avas delighted with it, and went 

 off to show it to his wife. He soon afterwards returned, and 

 said that, though he was perfectly willing to go, his wife would 

 not let him. I said, " Then bring back the hoe ;" but he re- 

 plied, " I want it." " Well, go with us, and you shall have it." 

 " But my wife won't let me." I remarked to my men, " Did 

 you ever hear such a fool ? " They answered, " Oh, that is the 

 custom of these parts ; the wives are the masters." And Sekwebu 

 informed me that he had gone to this man's house, and heard 

 him saying to his wife, " Do you think that I would ever leave 

 you ? " then, turning to Sekwebu, he asked, " Do you think I 

 would leave tins pretty woman ? Is she not pretty ? " Sekwebu 

 had been making inquiries among the people, and had found 

 that the women indeed possessed a great deal of influence. We 

 questioned the guide whom we finally got from Nyakoba, an intel- 

 ligent young man, who had much of the Arab features, and 

 found the statements confirmed. When a young man takes a 

 liking to a girl of another village, and the parents have no 

 objection to the match, he is obliged to come and live at their 

 village. He has to perform certain services for the mother-in- 

 law, such as keeping her well supplied with firewood ; and when 

 he comes into her presence he is obliged to sit with his knees in 

 a bent position, as putting out his feet towards the old lady 

 would give her great offence. If he becomes tired of living in 

 this state of vassalage, and wishes to return to his own family, he 

 is obliged to leave all his children behind — they belong to the 



