The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-25
The Marriage Custom.

The most singular among theAr CUSTOMS
Is that attendant on marriage, and one
which it would be well Tor Christian
nations 10 adopt. as thereby impecunlous
suitors would be reduced TO a very small
minority. 1t is done after TINS manner;
The betrothal ceremony taxes place When
the children are very small-that Is the
parents Of the prospective pride PIC out
| a boy whom they think viii be a suitable
husband for her and the children are
raised each to regard the other as their
future mate. When the girl arrives at
a m~arriageable age she Is sent TO the
house of her betrothed with
all the dover which her
parents can afford TO best0w upon
her. The intended husband is expected 10
take stock Of what has been sent and
10 return 10 his OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES just
| exactly double this amount. ms Is d
sine qua non of the ceremony. Polygamy
Is also practjced. but, in view of this
custom. it IS so expensive TO get married
that should a man W many wives ne
would be divested OF all his worldly
goods. and his numerous mothers-in-
law would live on the fat Of the land.
The ceremonies which take place AZ
| death are also very peculiar. The body
| Of the deceased is prepared for burial by
| being wrapped in cloth Of native manufac-
| ture. which Is very much similar 20 mat
/ used in the South during the late war.
The standing or Importance OF the dead
person is shown by the number OF cloths
| used. Of which notice Is sent throughout
| the province. and ten, twelve, and even
| fifteen are sometimes used, the latter
number indicating that the deceased Was
Of great wealth and high standing.
These people use no coin for money IN
barter and sale, but employ as a substl-
tute tobacco. and other products OF the
country. the commercial value Of each
being as clearly fixed as that or our
! coin. They are, however, always glad 10
get silver and copper coin from traders
10 make rings and bracelets, OF when
they are lnordinately fond, wearing them
on their fingers. ankles, and toes.
The missioary has I'm her collection
many pictures, taken by herself or the
! natives. The garb Of these IS prlnclpaliy
the personal dignity and importance OF
the subject, sometimes reinforced by Il
| standing collar. plumed bat, or some
| such trife. They are not an u~l-loohtnB
peopie. but the thick lips and receding
forehead show their small intelligence,
while the development Of the back or
the mead and their massive physical pro-
portions. Indicate the p~reponderance or
The animal in their natures. She has also
articles used in war and in the chase, the
| workmanship OF which is most excellent.
Noticeable among them is a war trumpet
formed Of an elephants tusk, covered
with bullock's hide and leopard's skin.
a throwing-spear or assegai, made or
| some light wood, and tipped at either
end with points Of razor-like ~keenness'
a long, curved sword or knife. encased
i'm a neatly made scabbard Of bullociks
hide. and various other articles, all well
made and highly ornate.
The society.
As in his country, and every other
| country on the globe. there are different
1 classes OF society among these people,
and. as everywhere else, the social stat
US Of a person is established by the world
Is goods Of each individual. Those VINO
have large possessions own slaves n
have all the comforts that can be OBJ
tanned in that quarter Of the globe.
There Is very little native literature,
and most Of the education among the
people has been obtained from mission
schools. They have an alphabet Of 2e
| characters or more, and each character
is a syllable.
The missionary Is anxious 10 get back
to her field Of labor, and Will do so as
soon as she can make arrangements. she
has with her a native African girl, VINO
does her homework. and is, she says, a
very good specimen of the race.