Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-12-15


Macha Mlssion. South Africa, Oct
2S.-A great deal has been spoken
and written about the poor African
bride, how she is sold to the highest
/ bidder and made the slave of the
purchaser. This and similar state
ments have gained for the African
girl much sympathy and desire on
the part of some people to liberate
her from such thraldom.
y The bridegroom and husband has
generally been looked upon as the
oppressor, SO that he obtains no SYM
pathy and it is generally supposed
merits none. Ancestral laws and Gus
toms, however, are responsible for
much that Is done and one suffers
with the other, but in different way.
When a Matebele wants wife. he
must pay for her. She is worth
something to the father, as she is
strong and can do hard work, and
she will be worth someth ng to tn
husband as she will do most of his
work. Then, too, the father, with
the price of his daughter, can buy.
another wife for himself. This is
one line of reasoning, but there is
another. If the husband does not
pay for his wife, then his own chill
dren and hers do not belong to him
but to the wife's father, or guardian,
and the real parents have no control
over them. II on the other hand.
he pays the stipulated price of sheep,
goats, cattle or money, demanded by
the father, he sets his wife free from
her parents and gains control of his
own children. Many 40 not pay the
price and therefore many illegiti-
mate children are in the country.
Some may wonder how about the
young men when they become Chris
tians. Surely they do not buy their
wives? 1t seems to be more diff
cult for the Christian bridegroom,
in countries where they are Just
emerging from heathendom than for
any other He must get his wife
from heather father and is obliged
TO pay the required sum, even though
he be married by Christian marriage.
He is expected in addition to bear
all the expense of native idea of
wedding, even a dress for the bride.
Then because he wears clothes like
white person, and tries to live in a
little more respectable manner than
his heather neighbors. they think he
must have great deal of money
SO they charge him more than others.
Some are required to give three cows,
which at the lowest figure means
$3.50. A few days ago received
letter from a would-be bridegroom
who is trying to arrange the lobola
(pay) for wife. He writes, "Oh,
1t is hard to be married among the
black people," But according to the
law of the natives and of the white
people who allow it, he must pay if
he wishes to free his wife from her
people and get control Of his children.
This does not signify that he is going
to make a slave of her.
Now let me tell you something of
the bridegroom among the Batonga
of this part of the country. English
law among the Matebeles carries some
weight and makes Christian marriage
possible, but it has not yet reached
the stage in this part of the country.
We have been clearly warned by the
government not to interfere with ma
tive customs in the least.
If young man wants a wife he
looks around until he sees suitable
person. He then tells his mother
to try to arrange a marriage for him
with that girl. The mother speaks
to the mother Of the girl who in
turn consults with other members
OF the family. If the sutton is re-
garded with favor, the mothers again
talk over the matter and arrange