350 
MARRIAGES. 
poor women are often severely reproved for the slightest mis- 
take they commit ; they then cry, storm, and rmi about the 
village, complaining loudly of the injustice of their husbands ; 
little attention is however paid to them, for the husbands, in 
their own opinion, are never in the wrong, and the dispute 
ends by the wife receiving a sound drubbing; she then 
weeps and screams, until the elders of the village come to 
her relief and restore peace for a time to the hut. 1 observed, 
that after a beating they become very gentle. It is certain 
that they are not vindictive; and indeed they would gain 
nothing by being so. On the third or fourth day after the 
quarrel they are as cheerful as ever. The wife dare not lift a 
hand against her husband, even in her own defence ; and she 
never ventures to indulge in the least joke upon him. The 
husband always speaks in the tone of a master : in fact, his 
wives are merely servants. 
I asked Haba why he did not sometimes make merry 
with his wives : he replied, that if he did he should not be able 
to manage them, for they would laugh at him when hje ordered 
them to do any thing. Their marriages are celebrated by 
feasting and dancing, all the population of the village partici- 
pating in the rejoicings ; the consumption of eatables is 
great, and the husband pays all the expense : those who 
cannot attend have their suppers sent to them in calabashes ; 
others who are absent have their share kept for them till they 
return home. 
When the young bride repairs to her husband's village, a 
fresh entertainment is prepared for her reception. Gaiety 
always prevails on these occasions. No religious ceremony 
unites the husband and ivife ; nevertheless, the link by which 
they are bound cannot be broken ; for the dowry which the 
husband has given is a solemn act, which cannot be undone. 
The wife is not the less unfortunate : let her husband beat 
her as much as he pleases, she cannot obtain a separation, 
