284 EESULTS OF POLYGAMY. Chap. XIV. 



Sesheke, wore eighteen solid brass rings, as thick as one's 

 finger, on each leg, and three of copper under each knee ; 

 nineteen brass rings on her left arm, and eight of brass 

 and copper on her right, also a large ivory ring above 

 each elbow. She had a pretty bead necklace, and a bead 

 sash encircled her waist. The weight of the bright brass 

 rings round her legs impeded her walking, and chafed 

 her ankles; but, as it was the fashion, she did not mind 

 the inconvenience, and guarded against the pain, by putting- 

 soft rag round the lower rings. 



The practice of polygamy, though intended to increase, 

 tends to diminish the tribe. The wealthy old men, who have 

 plenty of cattle, marry all the pretty young girls. An ugly 

 but rich old fellow, who was so blind that a servant had to 

 lead him along the path, had two of the very handsomest 

 young wives in the town ; one of them, the daughter of 

 Mokele, being at least half-a-century younger than himself, 

 was asked, " Do you like him ?" " No," she replied ; " I hate 

 him, he is so disagreeable." The young men of the tribe, who 

 happen to have no cattle, must get on without a wife, or be 

 content with one who has few personal attractions. This 

 state of affairs probably leads to a good deal of immorality, 

 and children are few. By pointed inquiries, and laying 

 oneself out for that kind of knowledge, one might be able to 

 say much more ; but if one behaves as he must do among the 

 civilized, and abstains from asking questions, no improper 

 hints even will be given by any of the native women we 

 have met. 



Polygamy, the sign of low civilization, and the source of 

 many evils, is common, and, oddly enough, approved of even 

 by the women. On hearing that a man in England could 

 marry but one wife, several ladies exclaimed that they would 



