woman’s liianTs. 
40 J 
fnq«voes among the people, and had found that the 
women indeed possessed a great deal of influence. W« 
questioned tho guide whom we finally got from Nya- 
koba, an intelligent young man, who had much of the 
Arab features, and found tho statements confirmed. 
Whon a young man takes a liking for a girl of anothoi 
milage, and tho paronts have no objection to tho match, 
ho is obliged to como and live at tlicir village. Ho has 
to porform certain services for tho mother-in-law, such 
as keeping her well supplied with firewood; and wneu 
ho comos into her proscnco ho is obliged to sit with his 
knees in a bent position, as putting out his feet toward 
tho old lady would givo her great offenco. If he becomes 
tired of living in this state of vassalage, and wishes to re- 
turn to his own family, ho is obliged to loavo all his chil- 
dren behind : they belong to tho wife. This is only a 
moro stringont enforcement of tho law from which ema- 
natos tho practice which prevails so very oxtonsivoly in 
Africa, known to Europeans as “ buying wives.” Such 
virtually it is; but it does not appear quito in that light 
to tho actors. So many head of cattlo or goats are given 
to tho paronts of the girl “ to givo her up,” as it is tormod, 
— i.e. to forego all claim on her offspring and allow an 
entiro transference of her and her sood into another family. 
If nothing is given, tho family from which sho baa como 
can claim tho children as part of itself: tho paymont is 
mado to sover this bond. In tho case supposed, tho young 
man has not been ablo to advanco any thiug for that pur- 
pose; and, from tho temptations placed hero bofore my 
men, I have no doubt that some profor to havo thoii 
daughters married in that way, as it leads to tho increase 
Of their own villago. Hy men oxcitod tho admiration 
of tho Bambiri, who took them for a superior brood on 
•account of their bravery in elephant-hunting, and wished 
to got thorn as sons-in-law on tho conditions named ; but 
nono yioldod to tho tomptation. 
Wo were informed that thoro is a child belonging to a 
