228 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
the evenings. The drinking goes on until the beer and wine are 
finished, the visitors going away at night, if they live in the village, 
and returning early next morning. If they are from a distance, 
house-room is provided for them. Among the higher classes, sing- 
ing and dancing women, of whom there is a small class in Darfur, 
are engaged to add to the enjoyment of the evening. Music is 
always provided. 
During the following week the bride and bridegroom do not see 
one another ; the bride is engaged in perfuming herself, dressing her 
hair, and in other mysteries into which I have not been initiated. 
The bridegroom is occupied in counting over and over the dowry 
which he will have to pay for his wife, and in receiving the visits 
of his young male friends, who help to wile away the weary time of 
Waiting by songs and stories, expatiating on the charms and duties 
of wedded life, and expressing, in terms of rapturous eulogy, the 
captivating graces of his dusky bride. 
On the sixth day after the wedding the bridegroom sends the 
dowry to his father-in-law, and if it be correct he receives a message 
to say that he may arrive to claim his bride next day. In the 
morning the bridegroom’s unmarried friends take presents from him 
to the bride, such as one or two cows, a few loads of grain, orna- 
ments, &c. In the afternoon the bridegroom is conducted to the 
bride’s hut ; she meets him at the door, and he presents her with the 
marriage ring, she making him in return a present of a love token 
and a ring. He then enters her hut with some of their chosen com- 
panions, and another feast is held outside provided by the bride’s 
father. After this is over the father of the bride retires, and the 
bridegroom, leaving the bride, joins the company. Soon after, the 
bride is taken round the village, preceded by music and lighted by 
torch-bearers, and after having received the congratulations of every- 
one she retires to her hut with some dozen of her female friends. 
A few hours later the bridegroom is conducted thither by an equal 
number of his friends, who remain outside the hut, he alone enter- 
ing. These young men then ask if they too may enter, and having 
gained permission they arrange for three or four engaged couples 
to keep watch over the bride and bridegroom for the night. This 
watching is kept up for several nights, and three or more may pass 
before the bride and bridegroom lose their patience and send their 
