12 
W ESTER lJ AFKICA. 
present when court was in session, and I 
was quite as much interested in the doings 
of the headmen who were officially con- 
vened to transact business, as I ever was in 
a court room in America. 
At one time I saw them try an adulter- 
er. It was done in the following manner : 
The man highest in authority occupied the 
chair. But this chair must be described : 
A three pronged limb of a tree, with the 
prongs cut off, one a little shorter than the 
other two, making the top incline backward 
( the prongs answering for legs), being about 
three feet high, with a stick flattened on 
top, tied to the longer legs with bark, 
about one foot from the ground, this making 
the seat of the chair. On this rude chair sat 
the old man during the progress of the trial. 
All present, the chairman or judge except- 
ed, participated in pleading the cause, some 
for, and others against the accused. They 
spoke in order, one at a time, all showing 
due respect to the one who had the floor. 
The counsel did not direct their remarks to 
the chairman particularly, but seemed to 
show him more deference than the others. 
