MATRIMONIAL MATCHES. 83 a girl becomes pregnant before marriage she is taken by her parents to the house of her seducer, and remains there until her child is born. Should she die in childbirth, the seducer is also doomed to die, unless he ransoms himself by payment of six to nine cows. If she remains in health, her father takes her and the child, and the seducer may purchase one or both of them. ‘The price for both amounts to six oxen and four _ sheep; for the child alone, if a male, one cow and four sheep ; if a female, only four sheep or goats.

When two families are on friendly terms, and wish to make a match between their children, the two fathers, in the first place, visit each other twice or thrice to drink mwénge, and on such occasions many guests are invited. Then the bride’s father goes to the father of the bridegroom, and offers him his daughter ‘‘ for friendship’s sake.” After this, the price of the bride is discussed and fixed, and a great feast follows, to which both parties contribute. A few days after the stipulated sum has been paid, the bride is fetched in the midst of a large procession ; amidst singing and dancing, and copious libations of mmwénge, the way is taken to the bridegroom’s house, where she is handed over to the bridegroom, and the whole company spends the night in singing, dancing, and drinking. The father of the bride receives for himself and his people the two hindquarters of the ox slaughtered on this occasion by the bridegroom’s father. On the third day after the completion of the marriage, the whole village assembles to pad the hut of the newly wedded couple with hay, when fresh libations follow. On the sixth day after the wedding, the young wife visits her parents, and during this visit, of three or four days’ duration, the husband keeps aloof. Fresh symposia given by the father of the bride bring the ceremonies to a conclusion. The young wife then returns to her house, and if her husband is in good circumstances, passes her time in smoking, coffee-chewing, idling, and paying visits.

When a woman is pregnant and labour commences, all the women of experience are summoned to assist her. She sits on her heels, her knees stretched apart, while one or two women support her back and arms, and the midwife sits in front of her, ready to receive the child. The delivery is promoted by rub-