Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-02-21


Neighboring Town.
Happier than some other races of men,
none of these West African tribes prac-
tice infanticide On the contrary, it is
considered a misfortune not to have
children, and this desire is the source Of
some very curious habits and customs.
Among the Bassas, tribe further to the
north, 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-
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 a native wants wife, if there is
none in his own town to suit him, he
sends to some neighboring chief asking
if there is a girl in his town of the age
desired. If the answer is in the affirma-
tive, he then presents his case to the old
men of his town, and after "palaver,"
much rum, they agree that he may bring
home as wife a woman from another
town.
After securing this permission he, with
presents in his hands for the Precipitation
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 Notwithstanding
been advised of his intention and being
incensed by his sighting them in select
ing a stranger, are prepared, as they are
allowed by their laws to do, to prevent
his leaving until their charms have been
admitted and their indignation allayed by
many presents. This custom, despite
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 S10 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-
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
women, and are called ''cutta de en-
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 a small horn
hanging from string fastened around
the neck. They also plaster thickly their
shaven heads with clay at frequent
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 a 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,
after having been accused, is never free
from espionage until some day he is
when after time he is found in
q mutilated condition dead in his hut.
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
a white man is no protection from their
revenge.
After a woman becomes a wife differ
ent laws affect her. If convicted of un-
faithfulness she is punished according to
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 in
hand in their wives forgetfulness of
their duties.
A native chief, when about to start on
q journey, or go on hunting or trading
or to war, on the day before
his departure, calls together his many
wives and advises them of his intention.
He then reminds them that the success
or failure of his effort depends upon
them, and asks if they have been guilty
Of any fault of which they should be
purged before starting on his journey.
This, of course, is answered in the mega
tive. Satisfied with their denial, he
then instructs them as to their conduct
during his absence, and then leaves to
nrOr,ood ON bic wav.