66 • 
MISSIONARY LIFE 
thus, and give book— a written agreement — to 
that effect. This is a very proper way, in the 
opinion of many missionaries, to take children to 
instruct, in the truths of Christianity; for if 
taken young, and if proper training be given, by 
the time they are of age they become so well 
established in the principles of Christian morality 
that they are likely to adhere to them through life» 
Daughters are emphatically the readiest cash 
article parents have for sale, and those who have 
a number easily get a livelihood. Parents rejoice 
when daughters are born to them, and say, That 
good too much.’’ The reason is obvious. 
Another fruitful source of wife-getting arises- 
from the decease of wealthy head-men. Soon 
after one dies, the male members of his family — 
relatives — meet together to make a distribution of 
his goods and property; and his wives, in common 
with other property, are distributed among the 
heirs to the estate, and become the wives of the 
legatees. If any refuse to go with those to whom 
they fall by inheritance, they are put into a dark 
mud-hut, and left without food or drink, or pun- 
ished in some other way, until they acquiesce in 
the arrangement. 
Men continue to get wives as long as they have 
means, without reference to age, or the number 
they already have. Kissicummah, a Mohamme- 
