MARRIAGE POLYGAMY. 97 
peace is, however, not of any long duration. In 
order that the bridegroom may be duly honoured, 
he is visited by a stripping-party ; with whom he 
and his people have a struggle and a dance, talk 
over the marriage, and ratify the whole by feast- 
ing the visitors, who return home laden with food, 
and sometimes with presents from the bridegroom 
and the bride. Polygamy is allowed here to any 
extent : there is, hov/ever, but one principal or 
chief wife ; the others, except in very rare cases, 
are looked upon rather as concubines than wives: 
the children of either are, however, cared for 
equally by the father, and are equally the objects 
of his affection and love. Adultery is punished 
with the utmost severity, both parties suffering 
the extreme penalty of the law : and should they 
not be punished to the death, yet the kicks, and 
wounds and bruises, which they receive, are so 
numerous and so dreadful, as scarcely to render 
a protracted life desirable. Polygamy has been 
the fruitful source of much evil in this ill-governed 
land ; and many murders of a most appalling na- 
ture might be traced to its influence. The various 
wives become jealous of one another: this leads 
to frequent quarrels ; and a quarrel, when^^ once 
commenced, does not easily subside. They invent 
all manner of lies to ruin for ever the objects of 
their hatred ; and if not able to succeed in their 
attempts to rouse the jealousy of their husbands, 
the savage and relentless passion which burns in 
their own bosom causes them to put a period to 
