352 INHERITANCE OE COURTIERS AND OTHER 
receive one half of a share less than the other. By this is meant 
one fourth part of the “ widow’s portion.” And the portion, so for¬ 
feited, will be divided amongst the other widows, or given to one, if 
there is only one remaining. 
A widow must have cohabited three years with a husband to give 
her a title to the portion fixed by law. A neglect on the part of 
the widow to assist in defraying the expenees attending obsequies 
creates a forfeiture of her claim. 
* 
The widow of a public officer who was a gift from the King will 
receive a larger portioft than above stated, in proportion as it may be 
made to appear that she had assisted him in his official duties. If 
she was not a gift from the King, she receives one fifth less than she 
would wider the above clause ; and, if she was given by the King 
at the request of the officer, two fifths less. 
The widow being, or having been, a slave-debtor to the deceased, 
will not receive any portion of his estate ; since, by virtue of cohabita¬ 
tion with him, she has been emancipated : but her children inherit 
according to law. 
Supposing the officer to leave a widow who was his own choice, and 
one given to him by the Kpig, besides on Anoo bjieeriya , or con¬ 
cubine, and a T,hat bjieeriya or slave wife, all of whom have chil¬ 
dren, they share in the following proportions. Those of the first and 
second classes as 3,—unless they are public servants, when they will be 
entitled to take as 4. Those of the Anoo b,heeriya as 2f, but if 
public servants as 3. And those of the last as 2. 
On the demise of the wife of a public officer: and supposing that 
she was bestowed on him by the King: her property will be divided 
into three shares,—one will go to the King, one to the husband, and 
one to her surviving relations. The marriage portion is generally 
restored to the relatives should her surviving husband’s rank be that 
of 400 Naa. 
A husband, with the consent of his wife, may leave her in the house 
of any one as a pledge for the payment of a debt! thus constituting 
her a species of property. 
But women seem here to have some means of cheeking 
the increase 
