Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-07
4 IA FFIR WEDDING.
PEGllMiNARlES An . CEREMONIES AT.
PENDANT THEREON.

iCNOAN I. ! 1efeON
Brides Valued in Cons-Her Trs.ssenu Com
Sis,s Sol-y OF Hair Dyc-we,l,l,n:. Fe.,iv-
itie. ar. AKIN to Donncy brook Fair
Gayctirs-
Marriage among natives OF South
Af.lc7l is very much u matter OF
pounds. shilings and renee, shorn OF
the gIamor OF romance shy tue fact
that the bride is estimated at so many
COWS and oxen by her callous and prac-
teal father. The Jiatlir patriarch re-
iy!ces III Il multiplicity of daughters,
Tor they are truly the props of his Old
age, and each uusEy damsel taken off
his hands by an ardent suitor means
an increase to his herds, cal".-i:,ted
with mathematical! precision, accord
ing 10 tie rank oi the brides father.
For instance. the hereditary CHIEF in
charge III :. tribe wien pArtin. with
his daughter need set no bounds TO his
bovine ambition. and the legend.
'EHidcs are cheap to-day is m"aming-
less To one OF sue, e,>ait;.d rank. y
mere. appointed CHIEF III charge OF
tribe dales not demand more than
twenty head OF cattle for his daughter
hul ten head is III" average payment
made. The ordinary katlr has three
III lo,r wives. ana w..tI! lie has Leen
in service With his white master sutli-
rienily long to acquire the amount
necessary to obtain the desire OF his
heart. he returns to his ancestral halls
and, after brief cou-ts!lip. makes his
selection in the "f,aliir market and
proposes the father. No presents
are made TO the blLenlaids. for there
are u:l.:e present: but that muci-1I.t,-
ii@nt, individual. the muthcr-in-law, is
duly recognized hy the heather. Cor shi
invariably receives Il COW from her SON
in-liEclcct.
ila!iir modstes receive few commits
siuns from natives for Iru,.asea,ls. The
bride dyes her hair Tor the wedding
.nGrn. with red clay. the symbol and
badge of every married woman. The
ceremony is usually very picturesque,
aud III that land q! sunshine takes in
the oier. The Officiating clergy cons
sist OF a terribly numpuus individual
rallied the "oi'itia! Witness who pub.
iiciy asks the woman in the presence
al her assembled friends and relatives
Whether she gives her fui and free
consent to the un:cn. and in the even:
of repentance at the last moment he
Instantly stops The marriage rites. TIE
Wedding breakfast is .c,h primitive
and satisfying. II consists OF cattle
or goats slaughtered fer the occasion
and large c;ilabasltas of "utywaia," OF
slafiir beer. an intuXcant breweii from.
grain resembling m!llet. On the
coast vile connection of treacle and
water. called '.isityinliyisMu, is in
srea! request.
When the marriage is Announced, It
produces "a tulter in the Eri..!.boriug
lila;i!s. and the braves Of any II ibe not
on speaking terms Wilh THE, bl.i,i,.; ,eo-
pie make it the occasion for Il hostile
demonstration. NnG"n subsequently to
nc avenSig law as l faction fight
The un!Evi,ed generally approach tae
acc.!c Of the ceremony armed with as
saSaiS and inoDkerries ard When the
ceremony is at !: NEST Interesting point
challenge the ahIe-Ho,iieu e.,,.s.s to
come forth To sk!Gmish Several OF
Tie latter who have DRUM: OF The '.uty-
Na!.:.@ not wisely D,.l ECO Well sally
io!.h 70 avenee tie insult, and 'Elid
!iy.,i isH!s and i.lints TO their level
!'eSl 10 break each others heads
i!;"#s are given :nu t;.iis.n bat the
average N;siiirs i:u..l is rs east steel.
I:ie women, too. are not bchin,lhanl,
ard urge on the cGmbatauts with
strong hints as To their Geseneracy
lIum the days OF ya:e. and in one case
When several OF tha:r injured foes tried
10 rise. felletl them 10 he ground with
fiat stones. Whei: the intrua,.;s are
driven off, the wn;lnded are brought
i:tio tic Eraai. ana the whole ;lsse:n-
bl2ge sits far into The night, drinking
beer aud Teasing OIL red flesh" til the
!ude awakening III The morning. when
the medicine man o" herbalst is called
ii - bind the broken limbs and minis
ten to the BIS X slaves OF overindulg.
ence.-'.!A. AFRICA, Review