86 A DESCRIPTION OF THE WANYORO.

If a man marries, and his wife falls ill and dies during a visit to her father’s house, the husband either demands a wife—a sister of the deceased—in compensation, or receives two cows. ‘There are instances of a man putting away his wife and afterwards taking her back again, a cow being killed on her return. When a poor man is unable to procure the cattle required for his marriage at once, he may, by agreement with the bride’s father, pay them by instalments; the children, however, born in the meantime belong to the wife’s father, and each of them must be redeemed with a cow.

Should the head of a house die without children, his brother inherits everything, even the wives; if there are several brothers, the younger ones receive small shares in goods and wives, according to the good pleasure of the eldest, who is the chief heir. When there are no brothers, the chief of the tribe inherits. But when there are sons, the eldest inherits all that is left by his father, the wives included, who, with the exception of his own mother, become his wives. ‘The younger sons recelve two women, two cows, and as much of the other property as the principal heir will give them. Wives and daughters have no share in the inheritance under any circumstances. If at the death of the head of the house there is a daughter left under age, the principal heir brings her up, and marries her. In default of male relations, the chief of the tribe fills their place, and usually takes such girls into his harem.

Theft is punished in Unydro by confiscation of cattle or women for the benefit of the person robbed. When a man is killed, the nearest relatives of the murdered man have the right to seize the murderer and kill him with a spear, and they receive, besides, a cow from the family of the murderer.

But should the murderer escape, and they apply to the chief of the tribe to procure the punishment of the guilty man, the chief receives from them nine cows and three sheep or goats as his due, in return for which he causes the murderer to be seized and killed, and exacts payment of the cow. Adultery, provided the injured man surprises the offender, is atoned for by a fine of four cows. If the chief is called upon to interfere he receives a cow. ‘The guilty wife is beaten, and