322 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
ground, round which an assembly of spectators sit or stand under 
the shade of the trees. The brothers-in-law then retire to a short 
distance from the bride ; she is welcomed by a loud shout, and then 
begins to dance the particular marriage step, which lasts a long time, 
and is accompanied by special music and clapping of hands. The 
longer she keeps on dancing the more creditable it is to her. It is 
a proud time to the lady, and she takes great pains to show off well, 
and to please the spectators. Afterwards she retires to her hut, and 
word is sent to her bridegroom that she has acquitted herself well. 
The next day she rests after her tiring exertions, and the day 
following the bridegroom arrives, attended by his unmarried friends 
of both sexes, relieves his brothers of their charge, enters the hut, 
and claims his bride. 
The happy pair remain eight or ten days together in that village, 
being supplied with food by friends, who also fetch them water and 
firewood, in order to save them trouble. During this time the father 
of the bridegroom is engaged in constructing for his son a new hut, 
and on the eighth or tenth day the newly-married couple come and 
pay a visit to it. A sheep is killed at the door, after which they 
enter over the body and blood of the animal. The bride is then 
only presented to her father and mother-in-law, and remains there 
two days, but never eats in the presence of her husband’s parents. 
The young couple return to the lady’s village, re-occupy her hut, 
and remain there a variable time — until, in fact, the lady is in an 
interesting condition. As soon as this occurs, they return to the 
husband’s hut, and settle down to their usual pursuits. 
Divorce is not common, and if a woman is barren it rarely occurs. 
It may, however, take place if a wife makes herself disagreeable to 
her husband, friends, and relations, and also if she should prove 
unfaithful; but this is a rare occurrence. Should divorce take place 
for any just cause, the wife is sent back to her father, and he refunds 
the greater part of the cattle, the number varying according to cir- 
cumstances. 
If a wife wishes to visit her friends or relations at a distance, her 
husband accompanies her, and fetches her back at the end of the visit. 
Polygamy is permitted, but is not very common, and seems to 
be regulated more by a man’s wealth than anything else. The 
greatest number of wives allowed appears to be four, and a long 
