The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-27
AMONG THE NEGRO
TRIBES OF AFRICA

We are apt TO think Of the African me-
gro I'm his native jungle as most uc-
praved barbarian. This Is far from the
truth He is In delicacy OF soul ana ieei-
ing often superior TO the so-called civil
iZed races. lie Is usually knd-hearted
and a good family man. In most OF the
tribes divorce IL almost unheard OF.
When il occurs there has 10 be formal
ceremony
Princesses OF the Gold coast only have
the privilege OF separating from Their
husbands without formality. .,,
Some white clay handed 10 the husbdhu
is 40 sign Of dismissal.
Common people on the other hand,
have 10 appear before the chiefs, VINO 9e-
eide the case. II they present the wife
with piece OF white clay, she must marx
the trees of the principal streets OF the
village as n sign that she is no longer "A
welded wife. IL the divorce Is granted 10
the man. the wife's family must return
the equivalent OF the purchase money.
Old age among the true negroes as
among many other peoples. is held In nigh
esteem. says the Southern Workman.
Contrary TO the popular notion, the ram
lily life of many African tribes before they
came i'm contact with European civiliza-
tion was beautiful. The large family pre-
walls.
There is probably no race in which on
spring is so highly priced as among the
negroes lnfantioide Is rare here I'm com
parison with Polynesia, and Melanesia.
They rejoice at the birth Of a child. In
peans Mother love Is very strong. II a
mans mother and his wife, they say. are
on the point OF drowning and he can save
only one, he must save the mother. for III
the wife is lost he may marry another,
but he will never find second mother.
The original right to private ownership
OF land is acquired as with us, either by
fee or allodium. IL is said that tenure
Of land among the Dahomeys and Bechu-
anas Is i'm fee simple. In East India IL
Is everywhere allodial. on the Cold Coast
property I'm the soil is acquired by bring
ing Il under culture. All the land IN the
neighborhood OF town is considered as
belonging to the inhabitants generally
and the man who first cuts down the bush
and grows crop is regarded as proprie-
tor OF that portion.
Among some West African tribes there
IL. under the native law, no community
i'm goods between n man and his wife.
Each keeps separate estate, women own
ing and holding property under identical
conditions with men. The laws OF in
heritance vary. In some cases the broth
er inherits in some the eldest or most
influential son: I'm some the chief slave.
The underlying idea in the inheritance of
property seems TO be TO keep the wealth
I'm the house l. O., the estate together
This is somewhat similar to the idea un-
dsrlying the English idea OF Inheritance.
- strong and the cunning. as with us.
defraud the weak out of property. partic-
ularly women and children who have no
powerful relatives.
In spite of abuses there Is definite
and acknowledged law. TO which an ap-
peal can be made by persons OF all classes
provided they have the means OF setting
the machinery OF the law In motion. There
are wills, but they are not the rule Gifts
take the place Of Wills A rich man gives
things during his lifetime to his friends
or favorlte wife or child or slave. so that
he can see that they get what he wishes
them 10 have.