NATIVES OF BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA 413 
fowls or corn in lieu of buying them, even though the price charged for them 
is very small. 
Polyandry, or the possession of more than one husband at once is very 
uncommon amongst the women. However ready some of them are to dissolve 
the marriage tie they are generally faithful to one husband at a time. Indeed 
I should say their tendency was to be chaste and virtuous after marriage and 
not to willingly depart from the one husband unless he shows indifference 
or cruelty. 
Marriage by purchase or arrangement is conducted as follows amongst the 
Yao: The suitor if he be of age or the suitor’s godfather 1 if he be a boy 
hears that a girl-child is born to a man with whom a marriage connection 
is desired. Or a child nearer the marriageable age is being solicited. The 
young man wishing to marry or the godfather on behalf of a boy not yet 
betrothed seeks out the guardian or godfather of the girl and proposes the 
match. The godfather refers him to the girl-child’s mother. If he be the first 
applicant and bring a nice present consent is almost always given. Then the 
two are betrothed, the boy or man gives another present, and henceforth keeps 
the girl supplied with cloth to wear until the marriage. The public intimation 
of the betrothal being complete is the acceptance and wearing of this cloth. 
A betrothed girl often cooks food for her future spouse. It is rare for 
children thus growing up together to fail to marry or to dislike one another. 
Sometimes however a young girl betrothed while very young to a grown man 
may refuse to carry out the bargain when she attains marriageable age and 
if she has taken a dislike to her proposed husband. 
Amongst the Atonga on the west coast of Nyasa the following are the 
customs observed in regard to marriage. A youth or man who wishes to marry 
pays about eight yards of cloth to the aunt (mother’s sister) of the girl 
he fancies. If this gift is accepted the prospective husband proceeds to build 
a house close to that of the man who will become his father-in-law. Whilst 
the house is building he sends a present equivalent to about four yards of cloth 
to the girl’s mother. (It would appear as if amongst the Atonga cases of 
a girl being betrothed very young are less common than elsewhere, and that the 
majority of marriages are only arranged when the boy and girl are approaching 
or have passed puberty.) 
When the day for the marriage is come a number of young girls who are 
friends of the bride take possession of her, put cloth over her face as a veil and 
deposit her in the bridegroom’s house. The husband is awaiting her inside the 
house. She stops at the threshold and will not cross it until the bridegroom 
has given her a hoe. She then puts one leg over the lintel of the doorway and 
the husband hands her two yards of cloth. Then the bride places both her feet 
within the house and stands near the doorway. Upon doing so she receives 
a present of beads or some equivalent. She then advances to the middle 
of the hut and there receives four yards of cloth. All the bridesmaids except 
one accompany her thus far but remain at her back. One of them goes in 
front. Then the bride sits on the bed and the bridesmaids leave. The husband, 
after their departure, places a lot of beads on the mat at the bride’s feet. After 
this he removes her clothing and leaves her naked save for a bead girdle which 
, she may probably wear, but whilst stripping her he gives her a present of eight 
1 I can only use this word to express the individual (of the male sex) who after the birth of the child 
is appointed its guardian by the parents. The father’s brother (uncle) is usually chosen for this position, 
and henceforth transacts all business for his male or female godchild. 
