The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-22
LIFE IN TIE FRENCH CONGO.
A White Womna Who Has Lived There
Long Tells OF Curious Native Customs.

a " j w Oman Hh1D tNo AuSEo
Long Tells OF Curious Native Customs.
French Congo differ much from those in other
parts of Africa. My surprise was great when
one of our laborers asked permission TO 60 to
his mothers funeral, for he had told me only q
few days before this that his mother had been
dead for years. When l told him that he was
not telling the truth he said: oh. he be them
other mother" This led me to investigate the
matter. l soon found that the natives some
times count their mothers by the dozen. Every
wife OF their fathers and all female relatives Of
their mothers are called mother. and due re-
spect is given to them. In fact. ahnts md
cousins are treated with greater politeness than
the mother.
The children belong in every case to the moth
er's family, the father having no right to them
whatever. except to take care Of them when
they are very small and nurse the babies when
the mother is busy. This is quite o task when a
man has a dozen or more wives. As soon as
tho children arc 3 years old they 60 to live with
their grandmother or ono of their mothers
sisters. and if this sister is married her chill
dren exchange places. The natives consider
the father unnecessary rs soon as the children
can live with their mothers relatives. y little
girl was drowned and her father grievcd greatly
for her. Some other men laughed ut him, say
ing, "She is your wifa's daughter. what are
you crying for III were your own child you
might cry meaning that If his sisters child
was killed he ought to care. but not for his own
Still. we find children on good terms with
their father. and visiting him sometimes.
Mothers-in-law are queer things there. Be-
fore a marriage the mother of the girl generally
has a great deal to say about her future son-in-
law. But as soon as all is settled and the girl
has gone to her husbands home. the mother
dare not look upon her son-in-law. II she
wants to visit her daughter she sends word
the day before and the husband disappears. II
by some chance they meet the, man runs away
aud the woman covers her face. IL they need to
have any conversation one remains inside the
house the other on the outside, the bamboo walls
separating them. Under these circumstances
there Is not much interfering by mothers-ln-
law. Lucky man, for it would be rather hard
with forty wives and forty mothers-in-law to
contend with.
The children take the name of their father.
besides their given name. Free natives have n
certain lot OF names to choo.e from, often the
name OF a bird or plant but slaves have direr;
s asa,s n"% and 81. sa on. q One e isnt Away. n aelI n s slave
from n free person by his name. Free natives
have another name derived from some forbid
den food. Some dare not eat chicken. for their
name Is. Chicken tN'Susul; others 90 not eat
goats lS'Camby,; others may not eat monkey
den TO some, bananas to others. and only rico
and the staple food. n'dG,sd. are free to all.
now tElS name eAleHuh MOI only 10 luo
Of different families in different tribes.
asa ng : his family name 1"% and il persons % of ' thy
same namelivs there. he Is their guest, otherwise
the CHIEF entertainS him. ] often wondered to see
the natives treat him royalty simply because he
bears their name. The natives firmly believe II
any one eats forbidden food he will become sick
and perhaps die. Even II they are very hungry
and there. Is nothing else TO eat, they will not
touch forbidden food; AS civilization advances
these things will be changed. but at present the
natives are afraid that some one Will bewitch
them II they eat what is forbidden;
that any of them die n natural death, but in
sist that every dead person was bewitched: This
does m mot mean eaI.a any5Ihi1TEi PIE snP e nstTsPi; but .Iu sim m
many cases. Even II real sickness did exist.
death is hastenetl by n dose OF poison. They are
months. SO they put him out OF the way in most
cases. Even IL the murderer Is known. they are
TO find the e%vildoer. The doctor can accuse any
one with impunity, and every ono will abide by
minlstered. In some eases the delinquent will
be killed during the, trial. but II he happens TO
be a rich s man BE- im is let MG off upon I%sv the csD payment H S of
crime upon any particular person they will
pick out some man who has n little money and
he has 10 pay tho penalty unless he runs away
to another tribe. a boy was poisoned by his uncle
because the little fellow was too smart for
us about it. and said he was on his way to find
a witch doctor, We tried TO persuade him not
his wife's brother, because her family would
take her away. but II the doctor accused him no
one could blame tho father. The doctor had
all necessary information, and after n good deal
OF drinking and dancing he picked out the muir;
derer and made him pay for IT,. After he paid
the money the thing WAS settled.
Another case ended in the death Of the homi-
eide. 4 man threw a stone at his wife and
broke her back. she died the Hext day. Her
brother called "A jury, consisting OF six %inttuen.
tial men, the King among them. They ordered
the man to appear before them and told him he
must drink the S~axywood mixture, and II he
was innocent IL would not hurt him. lie
dropped dead as soon as he swallowed II, as they
well knew 10 would; They threw tho body
sons knew, what had become OF him until
Upon the death of a king eight slaves were
killed. simply because the old man had been
sick for. a long time. Moro would have been
sacrificed, but the natives found out that tho
would inform the Government. our King was
the chief culprit in this case, and We told him
to beware. These things are carried ON under
the very eyes OF the Government, and very, little
fcialS do not go TO Africa TO do good to the ma
tives and 10 educate and civilize them, but only
to draw q double salary and have a good time.
II will be long time before witches and witch