Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-05-27
From The 1nlericun Missionary.
AFRICA.

FIFTH Observation-Disclosures AND FUNERALS.
Ny DEAR YOU'VE FHENDs:-You have with
out doubt read in the old Testament, the ac.
counts Of the marriage of Isaac and Jacob and
ofothers, and have noticed that they were very
different from those you may have seen in your
own country You remember in the case Of
Isaac, that Abraham's servant made large pre-
sents Jewels and rament to Rebekah and that
the acceptance of these presents by the parents
and the daughter was all the marriage ceremony
that ever took place The marriage ceremony
here is similar to what it was in the days of Isaac
When man wishes to marry he makes il
known to the parents of his intended wife b,
making them present, Their acceptance o
the present is giving their consent to the match
BY this the daughter is engaged or betrothed t.
the man. When he wishes to take her home he
makes another present to the parents ant
puts cloths upon his wife, as it is called The
last present has to be much larger than the first
The size Of the PRESENTS according to the wealtl
and responsibility of the parties. After these
presents the marriage is consummated by coha
bitaton. There is no other ceremony.
Polygamy is universally practiced by the chiefs
and principal men. A mans wealth and re-
spectability is reckoned by the number of his
wives and slaves.
About the time that girls arrive at woman
hood, they pass through what is called "Bu-ndu "
This is conducted by aged women. What are the
ceremonies, none know except those who 90 there.
The day they come out they are covered with
oil from head to foot and are marched through
the town with singing and dancing, &c As
soon as they come out of Bu-ndu, they are given
in marriage to their betrothed husbands, but not
before
Divorce is in the power of the husbands. If
he finds he cannot live with his wife, or that she
is unfalthtul to him, he carry her to her faith
err and leave her, giving a reason for so doing.
In their funerals also, there is very great re-
semblance to those of ancient times. Assoon as
an individual dies the women set up most
mournful cry, which is continued at intervals till
the corps is buried. | have known cases where
near relations as mothers for their children, have
cut themselves. The chiefs and the principal
men usually have collins of some kind, but 9TH
ers have none. They wrap the dead body first
in country cloth and then in several mats. The
bodies are deposited in the grave, which is usual
ly very shallow. The grave is filled without any
rite or ceremony whatever. The friends of the
deceased usually place upon the grave bowl of
rice, pipe and tobacco &c.
None are supposed to die what is called a ma
tural death. All or almost all, are supposed TO
die OF poison or wlthcraft Hence the almost
universal practice OF post-mortcm examination
If | am rightly informed certain condition of
the milt or spleen is an indication of being witch
ed. When chief dies it is almost always SUD-
posed that he is poisoned The chiefs all have
their family burying ground which are yearly
cleaned with great care; and cooked rice and to-
bacco, put upon the graves.
When a chief or some of his family dies, they
are usually buried in very shallow grave in the
town in which he lived, perhaps inside of an I'M
occupied house. There he is to remain till the
family are able to "cry" for him. The body is
then taken up and deposited in the family bury
ing ground. Then the "cry" commences and
often lasts three or four weeks This Gerry" is
very different from what the name would lead us
to suppose. They never can hold their "cry''
without rum and powder. The "cry" is held by
feastlng, drinking and firing guns, singing and
dancing, which is kept up from day to day till
done. This cry they think is indispensable, and
sometimes it is delayed for months till the fami-
" can get the means to hold it in a proper man.
ner. The common people do not hold these
"cries"
think l can see great resemblance between
The custom of holding a "cry," and that Of
mourning as practised by the ancients. You
remember that when Jacob died in Egypt, the
Egyptians made mourning for him in Canaan
they stopt and mourned seven days again fol
him. OF some of the kings of Israel it was said
"they made great mourning for them"
My next will be about their manufactures ant
agriculture.
Your unworthy Missionary,
VIM. RAYMOND.