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29 At the Back of the Black Man's Mind By R. E. Dennett
her property. Maluango so long as he is simply Nganga NVUMBU19 may have as many
wives as he pleases, but once he has been crowned Maluango he is supplied with one
wife, a princess of Ngoio (Cabinda in Kakongo) and must put away the others.
The people generally are polygynists, but there is a line drawn between the first wife
and the others. The first is called Nkaci Ntete, the second and others Nkaci Sialila. A
concubine is called Ndâia Xicinsu. An unchaste woman Ndumba.
Polyandry has not the legal character that it has among certain primitive peoples. With
regard to Polygyny and its effect upon the condition of the woman, it is true that,
apparently, certain women have always existed in this country who object very strongly
to sharing a husband with others, and such are said to be bad women or women of
spirit, Muntu 'Mbi. But as a rule the first wife asks her husband for women to help her in
her work, and such a woman is called a good woman or creature, Muntu 'Mbote. There
are constant quarrels among these wives, but the husband refuses to take sides, and
would be looked upon as a fool if he interfered. Should the injured woman in these
disputes appeal to an outsider or judge, as an arbitrator, he will refuse to have anything
to do with it. She has no appeal in these matters. Mankind generally treats the affair
with indifference.
Should a man promise to marry a girl, she can make him pay very heavily for breach of
promise if he has touched her; if not, she can only slang and shame him. The man,
however, cannot claim anything from the woman who breaks off an engagement, but
she gets a bad name.
If the woman whom the man desires to marry is past the age of puberty and is able to
judge for herself as to a man's parts, the man will first address himself to her. If the girl
is still a child he goes to her father and mother in the first place. The proposal made, the
father and mother discuss the matter.
If they can find no objection to the young man and they think it well to allow their
daughter to marry, they accept the young man's offer.
The young man then approaches his own parents and if they do not object, the mother,
who keeps her son's savings for him, gives him the goods necessary to present to his
future father and mother-in-law. These goods are given to the girl's parents in order to
give the man a hold upon them in case they supply him with a worthless article as a
wife. It covers their responsibility, which is a very great one, and gives the father the
right on the other hand, after returning the exact amount presented, to take his
daughter away from the husband, should he turn out to be a beast and ill-treat her.
There are two "marriage bundles": (1) Bukali in the olden days, 20 longs (say 10 francs)
but now 100 longs and one demijohn of rum (say 60 francs). (2) Mpakete, in the olden
days 10 longs, but to-day consisting Of 50 longs and one demijohn of rum, 1 coat, 1
19 High priest
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