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of Edinburgh, Session 1884 - 85 . 
must be content with only a week at a time. Concubinage is 
permitted, blit seldom occurs, only a very few slaves being held as 
concubines. Polyandry is not permitted. There is no class of 
prostitutes. A man may not marry his near relations, and it is 
considered better that he should marry out of his own village. 
But many of the young people become engaged at a very early age 
when thrown together in tending the cattle. A mutual understand- 
ing exists between the young people, and it is only when other 
young men begin to pay marked attention to the girl that her 
accepted lover goes to her father and asks his permission to marry 
her. Such permission is usually given, and they exchange presents 
before their assembled friends ; if they met with a refusal they 
would probably elope, and then the parents on both sides would 
have to pay a heavy fine. 
The presents mutually given are kept as great treasures, and if 
any evil befall the separated lovers, they console themselves by 
saying (pointing to the charm) — “ Never mind, I am engaged to so- 
and-so.” The engagement lasts generally for a year or two, and 
during this time the young man is not allowed to speak to or to visit 
his intended’s parents ; should he meet them in the road, he must try 
to avoid them ; he may however visit his fiancee at nights as often as 
he chooses. On arriving at puberty every girl has a separate hut 
built for herself. From what has been said, it is obvious that the 
relation of husband and wife in Darfur is not of a very satisfactory 
character. 
Mythology . — Although songs and stories are handed down by 
tradition in Darfur, the people have no bards or story tellers by 
profession. 
The following are specimens of their stories or fables : — 
“ Upon a certain day, many years ago, some boys were in the fields 
watching a herd of cattle. A thunderstorm, accompanied by much 
rain, came on, and the boys drove the cattle home, but in their 
haste they lost a cow belonging to an Arch-Barr. The cow happened 
to be a valuable one, so as soon as the rain ceased the Arch-Barr 
set off to seek for it, and during his search he was obliged to cross 
a very broad swamp. As is usual after a shower of rain, 
all the frogs in this swamp were singing (croaking). The Arch- 
Barr waded through the swamp, when one of the frogs called 
