778 MARRIAGES AND FUNERALS. Chap. XXL 



country nothing, being supported by their wives. Their 

 duties are chiefly to guard the residences of commandants, 

 and to act as police. The men of all these classes spend most 

 of their time in drinking " malova " or the juice of the palm- 

 oil tree (Elois Guineensis), which becomes intoxicating when it 

 has been allowed to stand for a few hours. This palm-toddy 

 is the bane of the country, and culprits are continually 

 brought before the commandants for assaults and other crimes 

 committed under its influence. 



The chief recreations of the natives of Angola are marriages 

 and funerals. When a young woman is about to be married, 

 she is placed in a hut alone, anointed with various unguents, 

 and subjected to various incantations, in order to secure good 

 fortune and fruitfulness. Here, as almost everywhere in 

 the south, the height of good fortune is to bear sons, and a 

 woman often leaves her husband altogether if they have only 

 daughters. In their dances, when one woman wishes to 

 deride another a line is introduced into the accompanying 

 song to the following effect, " So-and-so has no children, and 

 never will get any," and the insult is so keenly felt as to Lead 

 not unfrequently to suicide. After some days the bride 

 elect is taken to another hut, and adorned with the richest 

 clothing and ornaments that the relatives can either lend or 

 borrow. She is then placed in a public situation, saluted as 

 a lady, and surrounded with presents by her acquaintances. 

 After this she is taken to the residence of her husband, and 

 the dancing, feasting, and drinking on such occasions are 

 prolonged for several days. Polygamy is general, and each 

 wife has a hut for herself. A man generally gives the parents 

 a price for his wife, and, for a mulatto, as much as 60?. is 

 often given. In case of separation the woman returns to her 

 father's family, and the husband receives back what he gave 

 for her. 



In cases of death the body is kept several days, amid a 

 grand concourse of both sexes, who celebrate the event with 

 beating of drums, dances, and debauchery. The great ambi- 

 tion of many of the blacks of Angola is to give their friends 

 an expensive funeral. "V\ hen a man is asked to sell a pig, he 

 often replies, " I am keeping it in case of the death of any of 

 my friends." A pig is usually eaten on the last day of the 



