The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-31
BAsUTO MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.
Girls Are Desired in a Family, for
They May Be Exchanged for Oxen.
Chambers's Journal.

AK -
Among the curious customs of the Basuto
customs which never change, but are
handed down from generation 10 generation
ARE those connected with marriage. Sup
pose, good reader, you were a young
Musoto, and had been smitten by the sight
of a pretty face 0he Mosuto idea of beauty
is quantity; the lady must be fat-very fat
or she has no chance Of being considered
beautifully, you would be an aggressor
against all the laws of etiquette were you
TO speak TO her, though you might look at
her admiringly. Should the attraction prove
irresistible, your proper course OF procedure
would be to hunt up some old lady friend
If a mutual friend so much the better-and
confide to her your wish to settle down
and marry that particular fair one, begging
her TO arrange everything for yOu as soon
as possible. This she would gladly do.
taking the first opportunity to call on the
mother or friends of the wished for bride.
The two ladies would then talk 1T over,
discussing ways and means and your po-
Sition in Basuto society. "A large amount
of tact is necessary, as the mother OF the
lady must be convinced that the marriage
is in every way desirable. If your friend
could convince her that such was the case
you might consider that fortune smiled on
your cherished plans.
To secure 70 the lady of your choice the
full rights of a wife you would pay over
TO your future father-in-laW so many head
of cattle, according to agreement, which
is always based on the supposed value OF
the bride, her social position, personal
appearance, height, size, beauty, etc. This
transfer of cattle makes binding the mar
ltal contract, securing the woman from
i'll treatment at the hands of her husband;
for. should he i'll use her, she may return
TO her father or guardian, and SO the man
loses beth his wife and his oxen. The
parents of your wife would argue that the
payment of cattle was the very least you
could do TO ape them for all the
terrible anXietics and expense that they
had gone to in bringing up their daughter
for you. Nor do the Basuto ever alter IN
this respect; even should they become
Christians, their chiefs compel the pay
,napt of ooffla for their wives OF course.
herein lies the explanation OF the JOY mani
tested at the birth of a girl in q Basuto
family. She is taken up and exhibited by
ner grandmother, who hrst slapS her and
then kisses her, saying: Luck From this
child may come herds OF ~cattle!' The birth
of a boy, on the other hand, is deplored,
for he is regarded as an expensive and UNI
But to resume. Being now a ~son-in-law.
you must have a care how you deport your
self toward your father-in-law. as you will
be expected to take "a subservient position
in regard To him.. He may send for you at
any hour of the day or night to do all kinds
of mental work, and you may refuse only
at your peril. He can require you TO pre-
pare skins; bray. dry and clean them for
him: pillow his fields, sow seeds and attend
to his crops; in fact, you are virtually his
servant. For the first year after your mar
riage you would not take your wife far away
from her fathers home, but would well
with her in a kraal quite close to her par
ents. On the birth of the first child you
would perform the ceremony Of mokadee,
which consists in presenting your mother
in-law with a certain number of cattle.
Until this time you are not allowed TO
speak to your mother-in-law, or even to
look at her; should you meet her unexpect-
eily, politeness and custom make it neces-
sary that you should hide your head.
AS a Musuto you need not limit your at
tentions to one wife, although you would
distinguish your favorite lady as your
chief wife, and IL is her children who in
herit. her son being known as the great"