Chap. XXX. 
WOMAN’S BIGHTS. 
623 
wife. This is only a more stringent enforcement of the law 
from which emanates the practice which prevails so very exten¬ 
sively in Africa, known to Europeans as buying wives.” Such 
virtually it is, but it does not appear quite in that light to the 
actors. So many head of cattle or goats are given to the parents 
of the girl, “ to give her up,” as it is termed, e. to forego all 
claim on her offspring, and allow an entue transference of her 
and her seed into another family. If nothing is given, the 
family from which she has come can claim the children as part 
of itself: the payment is made to sever this bond. In the case 
supposed, the young man has not been able to advance anything 
for that purpose; and, from the temptations placed here before 
my men, I have no doubt that some prefer to have their 
daughters married in that way, as it leads to the increase 
of their own village. My men excited the admkation of the 
Bambiri, who took them for a superior breed on account of 
their bravery in elephant-hunting, and wished to get them as 
sons-in-law on the conditions named, but none yielded to the 
temptation. 
We were informed that there is a child belonging to a half- 
caste Portuguese in one of these tribes, and the father had 
tried in vain to get liim from the mother’s parents. We saw 
several things to confirm the impression of the higher position 
which women hold here; and, being anxious to discover if I 
were not mistaken, when we came amongst the Portuguese I 
inquired of them, and was told that they had ascertained the 
same thing; and that, if they wished a man to perform any 
service for them, he would reply, Well, I shall go and ask 
my Avife.” If she consented, he Avould go, and perform his 
duty faithfully; but no amount of coaxing or bribery would 
induce him to do it if she refused. The Portuguese praised 
the appearance of the Banyai, and they certainly are a fine 
race. 
We got on better with Nyakoba than we expected. He has 
been so much affected by the sesenda that he is quite decrepit, 
and requires to be fed. I at once showed his messenger that 
Ave had nothing whatever to give. Nyakoba was offended with 
him for not believing me, and he immediately sent a basket of 
maize and another of corn, saying that he believed my state- 
