178 TO THE LAND OF THE NEGROID an asset in Africa beyond other places ; not merely a wife, she is largely the provider.

" Man works from sun till sun, But woman's work is never done." Up at the dawn, she draws water, often carrying her burden long distances ; prepares food and makes beer ; grinds the corn, which she has largely sowed and ingathered ; tends the babies she sHngs on her back ; and often accompanies her husband on long expeditions, carrying the impedimenta of travel while her lord is unburdened except for his arms.

Yet it would be sweeping to say that, at least after marriage, there is not affection ; this could not be said of brute beast, let alone human beings, and though doubtless the level does not in general reach the height that it does with more civilized peoples, the finer sentiment must exist, if but crude, and great joy is often shown on the reunion of longseparated members of a family.

In regard to their children, this is much more developed, more especially in regard to the boys, for girls do not rank with them. Parental instinct overmatches uxorial. But if matrimony be a serious undertaking in England, not less so is it in Africa ; it may be infinitely more so on account of plurality, a responsibility hardly appreciated by us, unaccustomed as we are to utilize our wives as beasts of burden, and only, sometimes, to consider them as monetary investments I As this responsibility may even in Africa become somewhat onerous, it is