the range and variety of its occupations being naturally more circumscribed,
it continues nearly in the same state, because the situations
in which it is placed, have many circumstances in common with all
the rest of the world. Often, when in the presence of a crowd of
these poor African women, one might be led to fancy that they were
not so very far below the uneducated peasantry of Europe, as the
term ‘ savages ’ induces us to suppose; and this, certainly, would
not altogether be an imaginary feeling: for, surrounded by a crowd of
men, one could not, for a moment, forget that we were in the midst
of a nation differing extremely from our own; but on turning to
hear the conversation and remarks of the women, we might seem, in
an instant, to have travelled several thousand miles nearer to Europe,
and to feel less sensibly the impression of being in a strange land.
In public the women do not much associate with the other sex,
their occupations being distinct: the men employing themselves in
the chase; in warfare or plundering; preparing leather; sewing
clothes, even those for the women ; making various implements, such
as hatchets, knives, and all similar articles; milking; in attending
cattle ; and in all work in which oxen are used: — while the women
build the houses ; plant and reap the corn; fetch water and fuel;
and cook the food. It is very rarely that the men are seen helping
the women, even in the most laborious work. It must not however
be inferred from these remarks that they are deficient in mutual
affection; that would be too unnatural to be probable; but their
affection towards each other, if a stranger may give any opinion,
appeared to possess little of a refined character.
Nor is this to be wondered at, when most of their marriages are
formed without consulting the inclinations of the intended wife. In
many cases the girls are betrothed while yet but children ; the
bargain is made with the parents, and to them the price is paid : for
she is in reality sold; and on this account, the husband considers her
generally as a servant whom he has bought to build his house and
cook his food. There is little difference between such a wife and a
domestic slave. Though the girl should have arrived at a marriageable
age before a husband appear, yet even then she is purchased of
the parents ; whose consent or refusal is of more importance to the
match, than the approbation or disapprobation of the daughter. Ten
oxen is accounted a high price for a wife: but judging from the
poverty of the greater number of Bachapins, the average value may
be rated as below five ; and as there are few of the lower class who
possess more than the cloak which covers them, their wife would be
too dear, if she cost only a goat. According to the information I
obtained, there were scarcely a dozen men among the whole tribe,
who were not married: nor can this appear an extraordinary circumstance,
but to those who have been born in a civilized country, where
the artificial state of society renders that union an affair of the head
rather than of the heart, and where calculating prudence often steps
forward to forbid it altogether. Here the poorer class do not stop to
consider whether their wages will enable them to support a wife and
family; nor does any of the richer wait till he have accumulated
more property and increased the number of his herd to that of his
neighbour’s. On this point the savage stands superior, and here he
seems, according to the law of Nature, wiser than the polished
inhabitant of a more civilized land.
If the marriages of this tribe be attended with any special ceremony,
this is altogether unknown to m e: I never could learn that
any particular form took place, as necessary to confirm the matrimonial
contract, and render it' legal; nor do I believe that any
further arrangements are required, than those which have just been
stated.
Those women who are of pure Bachapin descent, have very little
personal beauty; and all that can in general be said, is, that in their
youth their features are not unpleasing. Those of Kora descent
might, perhaps, sometimes be thought tolerably pretty at that age;
and in more advanced years they often preserve a better appearance
than the. others; as may be observed in the eighth plate. The
number of Bachapins who have taken wives from among the Koras,
is not small. This seems to be a prevailing custom, with that class
who can afford to purchase them ; while at the same time the Kora