TIMBUCTOO. 19 the period of discretion is determined by the relations, upon oath, before a magistrate : there is hardly any man that knows his own age. The father may dispose of his property by will, as far as regards the property of his children, but he cannot divest his wife of her rights ; if a wife dies without a will, her children succeed.

Wills are not written ; the guardian appointed by the father takes care of the property of the deceased, and employs in trade, and lends out the money for the benefit of his children. Relations succeed if there are no children ; and if there are no relations, the king takes all but the wife's share. The wife's relations are not considered as the husband's relations. Children of concubines inherit equally with those of the wife. If a man have two children by a concubine, she becomes free at his death, otherwise she remains a slave. She is entitled, having children, to an eighth of the property.

MARRIAGE. A man agrees to pay a certain price to the father of his wife, and witnesses are called to sup* port the proof of the contract : the girl is sent home, and at night a feast is made by the husband for his male friends ; by the wife for her female friends.

Rape is punished by death* Adultery is not punishable by the laWj nor is it a ground for divorce. A husband may always put away his wife, but if without sufficient lgal ground, c !2