would have died out long- ago. The mortality among
children is enormous, and you do not often meet a native
over fifty years old. Dysentery is very common, especially
just before the rains. There is much malaria, fever, smallpox,
and a kind of leprosy, while the people also suffer
much from ulcers on the leg.
The most elaborate and interesting of the customs of
these people, as of other Africans,
relate to marriage and
death. When a man wishes
to niarry, the principal members
of his family go to ask
the girl of her parents. They
take with them a ring of
beads for the bride, and some
beads for her father. Next
day they return to the wooer
either with another ring, which
signifies acceptance, or else
bringing back the ring sent
by him in sign of refusal. If
the answer is favourable the
suitor goes to the girl's home
himself, taking a large collar
of beads, which he gives to
the mother. After that he
goes home again, but returns.,
once more, and gives the
mother five strings of beads,
repeating at the same time a formula which literally means
“ parched by the wind” ; that is to say, cold—the implication
being that he wishes to take away his wife to
keep him warm. For the wedding the girl is clothed
and ornamented in the presence of all their friends.
These clap their hands during the ceremony and afterwards
accompany the couple to their hut, where they
drink beer and dance all night.. After that there comes
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GOA MAN.
the usual round of presents. The day after the marriage
the husband gives the mother two pieces of calico, which
is called “ the price of the virgin.” The day after that
he goes back again and gives her another piece with the
words, “ My wife cannot leave me.” Polygamy is the rule
among these. people, and they have, two classes of wives
¡§-wives proper and concubines.. Each of the first has
a hut of her own. The others
are practically slaves. They all
occupy a hut together. A man
can always dismiss his wife; and
if he dies the lawful wives go.
back to their parents, and are
free to marry again. Thé others
form part of the deceased’s
estate.
When a man dies everybody
howls very mournfully ; then
they wash the body, clothe it,
decorate it with beads, and wrap
it up in a piece of calico soaked
in saffron. Thus it is left two
days until it begins to decompose.
A hole is then dug in
the hut, four or five feet deep.
The body is wrapped in a kind
of bag of rushes with three layers, put into the ground,
and covered first with thorns and then with earth. The
hut is then abandoned. If the dead man be a chief
the whole village is deserted also. On the grave, above
the head, is. placed a large urn of earthenware containing
a little flour, while a roast chicken is placed
by the side of it. Having thus left the dead man with
every comfort, the natives clap their hands by way of
adieu, and shut up the hut, as I have- said. Every one
who has Touched the body then washes in the river,
while the family cut their hair and deposit it at a
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are simply bought, and
CD / ] ’ I* y L . i
GOA WOMAN.