1802.] Manners and Cuftoms of the Inhabitants of Congo. 
length, however, one of them, overcome 
by his intreaties, confented to enter into a 
kind of compofition with M. Joly; he 
promifed to go to Paradife if he would tell 
him how many bales of goods he fhould 
have in return. ‘ None,*’ replied the 
Prie?t. The Black, altonifhed at the 
anfwer, demanded an explanation. ‘¢ I 
afked ({aid he) how many bales of goods 
you will give me to undertake the voyage 
propofed.”” The Prieft an{wered again in 
the negative, but at the fame time ufing 
every argument in his power to attach 
him to his caufe. To which the other 
replied in bad French, ‘* Do you think I 
am fuch a. fool as to undertake fo long a 
voyage for nothing ? Give me goods. ‘The 
Mifhonary urged upon him the necefficy 
of baptifm: but he could get no other an- 
{wer from the Africanthan, ** Give me 
goods! Give me brandy!’ Never was a 
miffion attended with lefs fuccefs, M. 
Joly, after two years’ refidence at Ma- 
dembe, returned to Paris; during the 
whole time he baptized only a fingle per- 
fon, who was a deformed flave that nobody 
would purchafe. The merchants had de- 
termined to deftroy him, but he efcaped 
from their hands ; and, thanks to his de- 
formity ! the unfortunate wretch became a 
Chriftian. 
The cuftom of polygamy authorifes the 
Congoefe to take as many wives as they 
judge proper. They are all flaves; ne- 
verthelefs, when a Black takes to himfelf 
a young woman of equal or fuperior rank 
to his own, he cannot fell her. Over all 
others he enjoys this privilege, though he 
exercifes it but very rarely. In domeftic 
concerns the wives are equal. They have 
no marriage-ceremonies—from the moment 
a man accepts of a young woman in that 
fituation, he becomes her mafter, without 
the intervention of the prieft. He lives 
indifferently with all his wives, and dif- 
tributes his favours among them accord- 
ing to his fancy. Every woman, as we 
have already oblerved, lives in a feparate 
houfe with her children. They com- 
monly live near their hufband, efpecially 
at the time of vintzge. But during thole 
periodical indifpofitions to which the fe- 
male fex are fubject, they are concealed 
from all eyes; for fix days they are fhut cut 
of the fociety ofevery living being. If in- 
advertently, or by other means, a woman 
in that fituation happens to be feen by any 
perfon, the fix days muft.be re-commenced. 
Her companions bring her food to the 
door of the cottage, whence fhe takes 
it when the attendants are gone. As {oon 
as fhe recovers, fhe daubs herfelf from 
437 
head to foot with a red kind of earth or 
paint, in which ftate fhe remains till the 
dirt and moifture of the {kin are abforbed 
by the paint ; when fhe bathes, and comes 
out of the water blacker and more beauti- 
ful than ever. 
The Congoefe bury’ their dead; but 
they mourn a long time before they com- 
mit the body to the earth, and the day of 
the funeral terminates the mourning, and 
is confecrated to rejoicing. The inter- 
ment is, therefore, not confidered as a day 
of mourning, but of feftivity. 
Mourning with them conlifts in wearing 
an inferior robe, in fuffering their hair 
and nails to grow, and in never wafhing 
themfelves, fo that when it lafts a confi- 
derable time, thofe who wear the garb 
have a mott difgufting appearance. They 
are alfo, on thefe occafiens, enjoined to 
abftain from brandy: but in this refpect 
the law is not of fufficient obligation ; 
their paffion for fpirits cannot be over- 
come, ‘he precept fays they fhall not 
drink malavou ; which word fignifying 
both brandy and palm-wine, they get over 
the injunction, by abftaining from the 
latter, while they drink the former as 
often as they can get it. 
A Congoefe is no fooner dead, than his 
friends clothe him in his beft apparel, and 
expofe him to view ona bed of honour, » 
placed in the midft of a great court, under 
a roof fupported by pofts, in the form of 
columns: the interior of the apartment 
they adorn in the beft manner poffible. 
His family and friends come and weep 
over him twice a-day ; and as brandy is 
given away upon thefe occafions, all who 
had but the flighteft acquaintance with 
the deceafed, come to fhew their refpeét 
and attachment, exhibiting figns of for- 
row and concern, with the hope of gain- 
ing, inreturn, a few drops of the precious 
liquor. Theauthor was fo much ftruck with 
the fcene, that he took pains to afcertain 
whether thefe perfons aétually fhed tears, 
and found that they poured them forth 
with wonderful facility. 
The wives of the deceafed are ranged 
about the corpfe, and pay the moft pro- 
found refpett to all thofe wha come to 
mourn over it. The rich always leave 
behind them a prefent of fruit or other 
things. The ceremony is conduéted by 
hired mourners, who walk round the fhed 
under which the body is placed, making 
all kinds of gefticulations, raifing their 
hands to heaven, and roaring out mourns 
ful elegies, demanding in their fongs 
wherefore he left his family, and reproach- 
ing him on that account with every fpe- 
3L2 cies: 
