Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-05-12
WOMEN WITH MANY HUSBANDS
The Practice of POlyandry as 1t is Found
Among Tribes In Central Africa.

". \. Sun.
Many polyandrous as well as poiygam-
Gus communities exist in Africa, but al
though much has been written Of natives
who have plurality of wives little has
bsen said of woman who have several hus
bands apiece. It is only recently, in fact,
that much has been learned of this pecu-
liar phase of African life. The reason is
that the tribes which practice polyandry
are for the most part those that are preyed
upon by stronger peoples, and so they bury
themselves away from the caravan routes
in the depths of forests, and have therefore
been less frequently met by explorers than
other natives.
1t does not seem so very strange after all
that the practice of polyandry, almost fore
ed upon soma unfortunate people by re-
nsrkable circumstances, has become an es
tablished custom. This is the way il usual
ly originates Some little tribe, attacked
by enemies or slave stesleIs, loses half,
and sometimes nearly all, OF its women,
who, the favorite spoils of war or the
slave chase, are dragged away into csptiv-
joy. The tribe has no relations with its
neighbors that enable it soon to restore the
due proportion of the sexes, and, as re-
suit the women who are left to them become
the property of all the men. The custom,
thus originating in violence, becomes in
time one of the tribal institutions.
The numerous tribes that practice poly
andry are almost invariably agricultural
and unwarlike communities. 1t IS remarka-
BILE how soon the custom comes to be regard
ed as praiseworthy. 1t surprises even many
native Africans to visit these villages and
fad there that only those women who are
free to all men are regarded as worthy of re-
spect. The women who, through choice or
restraint, has only single male compsr-
ion, is looked upon as a reprahensble per
son, a fit chi sct for invective scorn and
taunts The children in these villages are
taught to call every man father and every
woman mother, ard as TIE little ones sre
regarded as common property, it is some
times difficalt after few years TO tell
wen who their mothers are. The state
ment of some dictionaries that 'polyandry
is legalizsd only in Tibet" seems to he
far from the fact
These communities are scattered all
around Central Africa. They sic found Oh
both sides of lake Tapganyika, and are
particularly common in the regions vest
O. the big lakes that have been partly des-
clstsd by Arabs slave dealers. They have
reen described only by recent travellers in
Central Africa, and The fullest account of
them is given in the writings Of Jerome Beck
er. Force circumstances seems invariably
tn have driven these tribes into the practice
which in most cases, has become a settled
Flaw of society among them. Nore Of the
powerful and wsrlike tribes practice poly
andry though they are ali pOlygamists.
All explorers agree that among ne poly
famous African law regards adultry 40 no
triAing offense, and parishes it severely.
1t is remarkable fact, however, that BE-
fore marriage both sexes have the utmost
freedom. Among the most recent travel
era, Emin Pashs among the UnyoTo,
Thompson among the Masia, and Becker
among the tribes of Tauganyika, all report
that as far as the young people are COZ
csrned there is license without restraint.
No young man who takes one of these
girls for his wife has any sentiment OF
iealously for what is passed and gone.
The girls who have the largest circle OF
admirers in their days of freedom are most
sought alter as wives, and the fact that a
Young lady has had many amours only
proclaims her merits. But marriage
brings as inviolable duties, and as a rule
strict fidelity is demanced of the wife.