256 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
u I also find that among the Amapondo and 
several neighbouring tribes, including the Ama- 
swasi, the fields are cultivated by men as well 
as women." 
As regards their law of marriage, there are 
some peculiarities worthy of note. They pur- 
chase the wife by dowry ; that is to say, the 
Kaffir about to marry is obliged to pay to the 
father of his intended wife a dowry of cattle. 
To decide what the value of this fine is to 
be, or, in plainer terms, how many oxen and 
cows the girl is worth, she is brought before the 
u amapakati" of the tribe, and whatever judg- 
ment they pass, is considered final, Hence, if 
the Kaffir does not possess the number stated, 
he is obliged to defer his marriage with the 
girl, until he has acquired a sufficient number 
to enable him to purchase her. This he has to 
accomplish, either by working for, and buying 
them, or, as is more frequently the case, by 
warfare, pillage, and theft. 
As polygamy is largely practiced amongst 
them, this necessity for the acquisition of cattle, 
forms one of their main incitements to war, 
and their untiring love and prosecution of thefts 
in cattle. 
A singular usage amongst them is, that the 
" amapaqati" in passing judgment in cases of 
this kind, or in any legal proceedings, always as- 
