266 
MARRIAOE8 AND FUNERALS. 
bear sons. They often leave a husband altogether if they 
havo daughters only. In their dances, when any one may 
wish to deride anothor, in the accompanying song a lino is 
introduced, “So and so has no children, and nover will get 
any.’’ She feels the insult so keenly that it is not uncom- 
mon for her to rush away and commit suicide. After some 
days the brido eloct is taken to anothor hut, and adorned 
with all the richest clothing and ornaments that tho rela- 
tives can either lend or borrow. She is then placed in a 
public situation, saluted as a lady, and presents made by 
all her acquaintances aro placed around her. After this 
sho is taken to the residence of her husband, where sho 
has a hut for herself, and becomos one of several wives, — for 
polygamy is general. Dancing, feasting, and drinking on 
such occasions aro prolonged for several days. In case of 
separation, tho woman returns to her father’s family, and 
tho husband receives back what he gave for her. In nearly 
all cases a man gives a price for the wife, and in cases of 
mulattocs as much as £60 is often given to tho parents of 
tho brido. This is ono of tho evils tho bishop was trying 
to remedy. 
In cases of death tho body is kept several days ; and there 
is a grand concourse of both sexes, with boating of drum 6 ) 
dances, and debauchory, kept up with foasting, &c., accord- 
ing to tho means of tho relative. Tho great ambition of 
many of tho blacks of Angola is to give their friends an 
expensive funeral. Often, when ono is asked to sell a p'g' 
oo roplies, “I am keeping it in caso of the death of any 
tny friends.” A pig is usually slaughtered and oaten on 
tho last day of tho ceremonies, and its head thrown int° 
tho nearest stream or river. A nativo will sometime 9 
appear intoxicated on thoso occasions, and, if blamod for 
his intemperance, will reply, “Why, my mother is dead- 
as if ho thought it a sufficient justification. Tho oxpen» eS 
of funerals aro so hoavt’ that often years olapso before they 
can defray them. 
These people are said to be very litigious and obstina 1 ® 
