164 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinhicrgh. [sess 
exception of his own mother. The younger sons each receive two 
of the father’s wives, but no other property unless the heir choose ; 
as a rule they do receive a small portion of the estate. Wives and 
daughters have no inheritance. If a man die without an heir his 
eldest brother inherits the property. At a man’s death his 
daughters are brought up by the principal heir : failing an heir, the 
chief of the district takes his place, usually incorporating the 
daughters in his harem and annexing the property. 
Marital relations . — As under ordinary circumstances marriage in 
Unyoro is practically a matter of barter, the father of a family of 
healthy girls is a happy man. A marriage is arranged by the 
fathers, who as a preliminary measure visit one another frequently, 
and over their pipes and ale extol the virtues of their respective son 
and daughter. No secrecy obtains, but the discussion is carried on 
in the presence of friends or casual guests. When the fathers have 
reached a certain point in their negotiations it is customary for the 
bride’s father to visit the bridegroom’s father, and to offer his 
daughter as a friendly gift to the bridegroom. So far good; but 
then the question of price comes in, and often many days pass 
and many long discussions take place before it is finally settled. 
Itarely, cattle form the chief part of the dowry, but amongst the 
general population beads, bark-cloth, hoes, spears, sheep, and goats 
are more in vogue. The bargain struck, it is clinched by a feast, to 
which relations and friends are invited. After the price has been 
paid to the bride’s father, a week may elapse, and then the bride, 
escorted by her friends and preceded by music, is led to her future 
husband’s hut, where a great feast is held, both families contributing 
to it. The bridegroom’s father kills an ox, the hind-quarters of 
which are given to the bride’s father. Three days after this night 
of revelry the villagers again assemble, and, after decorating the 
marriage hut, they spend another night in dancing and singing. As 
among so many other African tribes, on the sixth day the bride 
returns alone to her father’s house, where she remains for a week 
before finally and permanently returning to her husband. As far as 
I know, there is no marriage-contract. Polygamy is permitted, each 
wife as a rule, and certainly among the better classes, possess- 
ing her own establishment. There are no prohibited degrees of 
relationship as regards marriage, and a man may marry anyone, even his 
