400 
woman’s eights 
faith in tho muavi detecting tho guilty alone: hence they 
go willingly, and even eagerly, to drink it. When in An- 
gola, a half-casto was pointed out to mo who is ono of tho 
most successful merchants in that country; and tho mothor 
of this gentleman, who was perfectly free, wont, of her 
own accord, all tho way from Ambaca to Cassango, to be 
killed by tho ordeal, her rich son making no objection. 
The same custom provails among tho Barotse, Bashubia, 
and Batoka, but with slight variations. Tho Barotse, fot 
instance, pour tho medicine down tho throat of a cock or 
of a dog, and judgo of tho innocence or guilt of tho person 
accused according to tho vomiting or purging of tho 
animal. I happened to mention to my own men the water- 
test for witches formerly in use in Scotland: the supposed 
witch, being bound hand and foot, was thrown into a pond: 
if she floated, she was considered guilty, taken out, and 
burned; but if she sank and was drowned, she was pro- 
nounced innocent. Tho wisdom of my ancestors excitod 
as much wondor in their minds as their custom did in 
mino. 
Tho person whom Nyakoba appointed to be our guide, 
having informed us of tho decision, came and bargained 
that his services should be rowarded with a hoo. I had 
no objection to give it, and showed him tho article : ho 
was delighted with it, and wont off to show it to his wifo. 
Ho soon afterward returned, and said that, though ho was 
perfectly willing to go, his wifo would not lot him. I said, 
''Then bring back tho hoc;” but ho replied, “I want it.” 
•‘Well, go with us, and you shall have it.” “But my wife 
won’t lot mo.” I remarked to my men, “ Hid you over 
hoar such a fool ?” They answered, “ Oh, that is tho cus- 
tom of these parts : tho wives aro tho mastors.” And 
Sekwebu informed me that ho had gone to this man’s 
houso, and hoard him saying to his wife, “Ho you think 
that 1 would ever leave you?” then, turning to Sekwebu, 
he asked, “ Ho you think I would leave this pretty 
woman ? Is she not pretty?” Sekwebu had been -snaking 
