Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-03-23

Happier than some other races of men, none of these West African tribes prao- tice infanticide. On the contrary, it is considered misfortune not to have children, and this desire is the source of some very curious habits and customs. Among the Bassas, a tribe further to the north, a banana tree is planted on the day of marriage, and if on the day of its first producing fruit child should not have been born the contract is con- sidered void and the parties marry again.
 With the Kabina the bride and groom immediately after marriage are locked in hut which must never have been occupied before, and are there kept close prisoners for three months, except that at every midnight the old men of the town take the groom and the old women the bride and escort them to the "fetich man." to whom they appeal for children. During this time, however, they are well supplied with both food and drink. At the end of the three months a great feast is held, when the prisoners are released and the hut where they have been con- fined is burned, and thus their honey moon is brought to an end.
 HOW A WIFE IS GOT.
 The ceremony of marriage among these people is conducted by the different tribes in a manner that is common to them all.
 When native wants wife, if there is none in his own town to suit him, he sends to some neighboring chief asking if there is girl in his town of the age desired. If the answer is in the affirma- tive, he then presents his case to the ole men of his town, and after ''palaver," or talk, at which there is the drinking O: much rum, they agree that he may bring home as wife woman from another town.
 After securing this permission he, with presents in his hands for the propitiation of the spirit powers, visits the head 'fetich man." and after listening to his many prayers receives a charm. He is then ready to seek his bride.
 In the meantime the women of his town-maids, wives and widows-having been advised of his intention and being incensed by his sighting them in select ing stranger, are prepared, as they arc allowed by their laws to do, to prevent his leaving until their charms have been admitted and their indignation allayed by every precaution of the man, often ends in disputes which are settled only by an appeal to the "fetich man" and "sussi- wood"
 However, having overcome the diff culties of his departure, he arrives at and is received in his prospective brides town by the old men of the place and by them conducted to the ''palaver house, where there is more talk and more rum. The presents he has brought having been found acceptable, he is then allowed to know the parents of the girl he is seek ing, and from them learns the sum in beads, rum, cloth, etc., he has to pay be- fore he can secure her. This usually represents in value about SIC. This mat ter having been satisfactorily settled. he returns to his town and forwards the goods as agreed upon.
 At the setting of the sun on the day appointed for the closing of the contract the bride, naked except for being painted with different colored chalks, accom- l panied by her parents and friends, ar rives at the home of the groom. There they are received with much rejoicing. gun firing. drum beating, dancing and feasting. This is continued until both man and woman are exhausted by their orgies, when they are bundled into the hut to remain for the customary time. The customs surrounding the bringing up of these girls and their conduct after having become wives are strange and interesting. All women, unless they are | slaves, until they are married or reach a | certain age are under the care of the old | guago," or grigory bush girls. They can be easily recognized. for, no matter what may be their age, they are always en- | tirely naked, with only small horn hanging from a string fastened around the neck. They also plaster thickly their shaven heads with clay at frequent i intervals. This it is "fetich" to remove or touch with water, and must be taken | off only by their husbands.
 | THE SEDUCER THERE GETS HIS DUE.
 For one of these girls to be forgetful of her virtue is crime, but for which she is not called upon to pay the penalty. The nature of the punishment is death, but how inflicted it has been impossible for me to learn, it being ''fetich" for any male to interfere in these matters. The old women have sole jurisdiction and most jealously guard the secrets of their calling; but, be it as it may, the man. 1 after having been accused, is never free 1 from espionage until some day he is missed, when after time he is found in mutilated condition dead in his hut. 1 Contrary to what might be expected, so strict are these people in the observance of this custom that no sum of money | will purchase immunity, and even being white man is no protection from their revenge.
 After woman becomes wife differ. ent laws affect her. If convicted of un- faithfulness she is punished according tc her husbands pleasure. This, as a rule finds expression by his selling her into slavery. A peculiar belief is their find ing reason for the failure of any en deavor or undertaking they may have ir hand in their wives forgetfulness o1 their duties.
 A native chief, when about to start or journey, or go on hunting or trading expedition, or to war, on the day beforl his departure, calls together his many wives and advises them of his intention He then reminds them that tho success: or failure of his effort depends upor them, and asks if they have been guilty of any fault of which they should bt purged before starting on his journey This, of course, is answered in the mega tive. Satisfied with their denial, ht then instructs them as to their conduc during his absence, and then leaves t proceed on his way.-Cor. New Yorl Herald.