The Wakerewe also believe that, if a hawk
seizes a fish belonging to the Wakara, it is
sure to die in the v e ry act!
Kaduma o f K a g eh y i, according to Khamis,
possessed a hippopotamus which came to him
each morning, for a long period, to be milked!
It requires twelve goats and three hoes to
purchase a wife in Ukerewe from her parents.
Sungoro, the Arab, was obliged to p a y Lukongeh
350 lbs. o f assorted beads and 300 yards o f good
cloth before he succeeded in obtaining one of
his young sisters in marriage. If the lover is
so p o o r that he has neither goats nor hoes, he
supplies such articles as spears, or bows and
arrows, but he cannot obtain a wife until he
furnishes a sufficient d ow ry to please her parents.
I f the parents or older relatives are grasping,
and impose hard conditions, the state o f the
lover is hard indeed, as frequently after marriage
demands are made for cattle, sheep, goats, &c.,
a refusal o f which renders the marriage void
until children have been bom, when all connection
with her blood-relatives ceases.
Thieves, adulterers, and murderers are put to
death b y decapitation. T h e y may escape death,
however, b y becoming the slaves o f the pa rty
th ey have wronged.
Coils o f brass wire are much coveted b y the
W a k e rew e , for the adornment o f their wives,
who wear it in such numerous circlets round
[June 6 ,1875.1 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS IN UKEREW&. 17 [ Msossi. J
their necks as to give them at a distance an
appearance o f wearing ruffs. Wristlets o f copper
and brass and iron, and anklets o f the same
metal, besides armlets of ivory, are the favourite
decorations o f the males.
Families in mourning are distinguished b y
bands o f plantain le af round their heads, and b y
a sable pigment o f a mixture o f pulverized
charcoal and butter. The matrons who have
fallen into the sere o f life are peculiar for their
unnatural length o f breasts, which, depending
like pouches down to the navel, are bound to
their bodies b y cords. T h e dress o f men and
women consists o f half dressed ox-hides, goatskins,
or a cincture o f banana leaves, or kirtles
of a coarsely made grass-cloth.
On the 6th June, Lukongeh, having issued
instructions to his chiefs how to assist me,
called on me at night, accompanied b y his
premier, to impart his decision and; plans.
Said he:— “My people are v e ry timid in strange
lands. T h e y are no travellers like the Wangwa-
na. I am obliged therefore to act in the dark
with them, otherwise I could not help you. I
am going to give y o u twenty-three canoes and
their paddles. T h e y are not worth much, and
if they give yo u trouble, yo u must not blame
me. I am telling my people yo u are coming
back to Ukerewe, Don’t deny it, and don’t talk
THROUGH THE DARK CONTINENT. VOL. II. C