Wichita eagle., 1888-12-22
The KafHr's WOoing.

A Kaf1ir, having fixed his affections
upon some female, acquaints his parents
with his intentions. They apply to the
girls parents, and if the latter do not
consent to the union fight is inevitable.
If the parents agree the next proceeding
is to appoint two expert female nesu.
ators, who obtain access by strategem to
the house, with the object of broaching
the subject to the young lady. They
carefully avoid any sudden or abrupt
mention Of the awful subject of their
mission, but launch out in praises of the
man who seeks her hand They speak
of his possessions, his courage and ac-
complishments. The girl. pretending to
be atfronted even at these remote hints,
grows refractory and runs away, tearing
the ringlets of her hair as she retires.
The female ambassadors, having got
the consent of the parents, drag her from
her concealment and carry her by force
to the house of her destined husband and
there leave her. She is compelled to live
here several days, silent and detected,
refusing food. till at last, if kind entreat-
les do not prevail, she is made to submit
by blows to the union. The Kafiir who
has the reputation Of having committed
a number of murders of. Mohammetans
enjoys exceptional privileges; he is re-
spected by all the neighborhood, and ex-
periences little or no difficulties in pro-
curing a wife. The Kaffir woman is
doomed to life of toll and drudgery,
and the husband can discard her when
ever he feels so disposed. Calcutta News.
Animal Companionships.
The other day was riding through Cali
iornia ON my way from Los Angeles to San
Francisco. 1t was near evening, and we had
for some distance, passed through a plain
covered with very broad, low, gently curved
mounds. These were perhaps fifteen or
twenty feet in diameter and not more than
one or two feet in height. Suddenly. on the
summit of one Of them, | saw comical little
gray owl solemnly blinking at the train as it
whizzed by. rubbed my eyes to assure my
self that was awake, and then kept sharp
lookout Soon | saw another, and then
couple looking at one another, and here an
other and there one. Owls certainly, and
plenty of them. | now suspected We were pass
ing through prairie dog town, and looked at
the low mounds with increased interest.
They were not at all like the pictures had
seen. They were not SO steep or high AT
last saw one of the dogs standing up on his
hind legs-a fat, clumsy little fellow, some
thing like woodchuck in size and general
appearance. Then there were more of them.
Some disappeared instantly into their holes;
others kept courage and watched us. So We
went on-miles Of prairie dog town, hundreds
of dogs, hundreds of owls
This is an example Of what a naturalist
calls animal companionship." The prairie
dogs dig their burrows deep into the earth
and throw up the mounds Of earth around the
mouth of it. Then these queer little owls, in
sober gray, come and live with them or take
possession of deserted nests They say, too,
that third ledger comes and hunks in"
with them both-the prairie rattlesnaka A
queer trio of fellow dodgers, the prairie dog,
the owls and the rattlesnakel Nor do they al
ways get on PLEASANTLY together.-Swiss
Cross 40