622 
WOMAN’S BIGHTS.' 
Chap. XXX. 
Barotse, for instance, pour the medicine down the throat of a 
cock or of a dog, and judge of the innocence or guilt of the 
person accused, according to the vomiting or purging of the ani¬ 
mal. 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 tlirown into a pond ; if she floated, she 
was considered guilty, taken out, and burned; but if she sank 
and was drowned, she was pronounced innocent. The wisdom of 
my ancestors excited as much wonder in their minds, as their 
custom did in mine. 
The person whom Nyakoba appointed to be our guide, having 
informed us of the decision, came and bargained that his services 
should be rewarded with a hoe. I had no objection to give it, 
and showed him the article ; he was delighted with it, and went 
off to show it to his wife. He soon afterwards returned, and 
said that, though he was perfectly willing to go, his wife would 
not let liim. I said, Then bring back the hoe but he re¬ 
plied, I want it.” Well, go with us, and you shall have it.” 
But my wife won’t let me.” I remarked to my men, Did 
you ever hear such a fool ? ” They answered, Oh, that is the 
custom of these parts ; the wives are the masters.” And Sekwebu 
informed me that he had gone to this man’s house, and heard 
him saying to liis wife, Do you think that I would ever leave 
you ? ” then, turning to Sekwebu, he asked, Do you think I 
would leave tliis pretty woman ? Is she not pretty ? ” Sekwebu 
had been making inquiries among the people, and had found 
that the women indeed possessed a gveat deal of influence. We 
questioned the guide whom we finally got from Nyakoba, an intel¬ 
ligent young man, who had much of the Arab features, and 
found the statements confirmed. \Wien a young man takes a 
liking to a gud of another village, and the parents have no 
objection to the match, he is obliged to come and live at their 
village. He has to perform certain services for the mother-in- 
law, such as keeping her well supplied with firewood ; and when 
he comes into her presence he is obliged to sit with his knees in 
a bent position, as putting out his feet towards the old lady 
would give her great offence. If he becomes tked of living in 
this state of vassalage, and wishes to return to his own family, he 
is obliged to leave all his children behind—they belong to the 
