MATRIMONY — ABUSE OF WOMEN. 63 
those who have thern may retire from active 
business and live upon their labors. 
A man's wealth and authority is estimated 
by the number of his wives. He who has 
twenty, has twice the wealth and authority , 
of him who has but ten. 
Wives are property to all intents and 
purposes, and though it is disreputable for 
a man to sell his wife, yet they often manage 
to get clear of them, if a sufficient compen- 
sation is offered . They have little conscience 
in the matter. Sometimes they manage to 
prove an accusation against them which they 
make an excuse for selling them into slavery. 
Marriage contracts are often made for 
girls when they are not more than five or 
six years old. In this case the betrothment 
money, or most of it, is not paid until near 
the time of marriage, — say when the girl 
is thirteen or fourteen years old. It is con- 
sidered a reproach for girls to pass twelve 
years of age, without having an offer for 
marriage. Indeed they are frequently 
married at that age. 
Whilst I was at Good Hope station a man 
came there making inquiry for his wife. 
