The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1857-1858, 1857-07-08
Female eupramaev 81 Genital Astiea

GO0A10 bupco1o4y - Ce0tN Axtlfa.
During Dr. Liyinspaon' decent along the
river Zambese, b came chiefly in contact
with the Bslonda negroes On gaining q
moro intimate acquaintance with their social
stats, car traveller was specially struck with
sae prevailing peculiarly position, and
even power Of the women. Az rule it has
been found that Heathenism deprives women
OF her fightful Status in society, and dooms
her to drudgery and degradation. He was
not prepared, therefore to find amongst the
Heather and very superstitious people, the
relative position Of man and women revers-
ed That the women should sit in the coun-
ellis Of the nation; that ayonng man ON en-
tering the matrimonial state should be CON-
PEELED to remove from his own village to that
Of his wife; and in forming this relation he
should bind himself to provide her mother
with 6rewood a. long rs the old lady lived
that the wife alone could divorce the hus-
baud, and that in event of their separation,
the children become the property Of their
mother; and that the lord Of creation should
be unable to enter into the most ordinary
contract, or perform the simplest service for
another, without the sanction Of the "lady
superior were certainly indications of fe-
male supremancy-which it was passing
strange to find (it is to be hoped for the FIRST
time and tho last in the history Of discover
ies) amongst the denizens of Central Africa.
But yet it must be allowed that ''the recip-
roctity was" not "only ON one side" for, in
return for the husband Difference, his wives
were expected to provide him with food
This possibly, may account for the fact
which our friend states, that the ladies new
er lack husband, and that an old maid is
not to be found from the Cape to the Equat-
or.
Occasionally, however, there will come
hitch.in their domestic arrangements; and
while our traveller supplies no instance of
rebellion on the part Of the. husband, he shows
that conspiracy was not 90 unusual amongst
wives If at any time the former 10 SO I'M
fortunate as to offend the ladies, they resolve
to wound him in the most tender part-the
stomach Returning home, therefore, at the |
usual hour, he calls upon his first wife, and
asks for dinner, but she sends him to q Sec
ond "whom he loves better" and she again |
to third, until he has run the gauntlet
through them all with the same result
Having nothing left but to avenge himself of
the wrong, faint and hungry, he climbs
tree in some populous part ofhis village, and
pTUClolHS 1iOuu, Will PttcuuU HueOas~sAVA0' |
Listen, o Listen; thought had women
but they are only witchesl | am a bachelor
/ have not single wife! Is that right for
gentleman like me?' But the ladies, not al
ways satisfied with showing their displeas-
ure in the negative form, will sometimes ey-
ell dare to enforce their authority over their
husbands with cuffs and blows. This how
ever. is carrying matters a little to far, and
the public sentiment being against such con-
duct, the poor sufferer gets more substantial
revenge; for the authorities of the village
then interfere, and his tyrannical wife is
sentenced for the assault to carry him upon
her back from the Gotta, at enclosed court
Of the chiefs premises, to his own house
taunted as she goes along, with the sneers
and gibes of men on one hand; but aiasl on
he other, cheered by the sympathy and by
such exortations az, SERVES him right,
'Give it to him again" from members Of
her own gentle sex -British Banner.