chief, or even a king. Among the lower classes, less valuable gifts are given. When the presents have been accepted, the parents of the young woman conduct her to the house of her future husband, attended by a numerous train of women, musicians, dancers, &c. who chaunt the virtue and beauty of the bride, and the power, riches, and generosity of the bridegroom. On the bride's arrival at the door of the bridegroom's house, she takes off her slippers, and receives from her attendants a calabash of water; she knocks at the door, it is opened, and she finds her intended sitting in the midst of the elders of his family, and approaching toward him, she prostrates herself, baths his feet with the water in the calabash, and dries them with the lower part of her apparel. This act of submission is the only ceremony performed at marriages. The husband then installs his wife in a cottage on his land, which has been constructed for her use, and where she finds every thing for her individual comfort and subsistence. The first woman espoused is with more propriety his wife, and maintains a degree of superiority over the others. She resides in the same house with her husband, and eats with

him, but not at the same table; takes care of his slippers, an dis consulted and heard on all domestic affairs. The other women, though they are legitimately married, must observe a certain deference towards the former; they are never suffered to enter the house of their lord unless sent for, and are obliged to leave their slippers at the door; they are, in fact, a sort of legitimate concubines, whom the husband regularly visits, staying alternately a week with each. Every wife enjoys her own private property. As the first has great influence, the others are interested in courting her favour, which they emulate each other to obtain by making hér presents.

The following is a marriage ceremony at BIRD'S ISLAND, off GOREE:-The bride, a beautiful black girl, had a profusion of ornaments about her, consisting of bracelets, rings, necklaces, a rich veil, &c. They had a drum beating, and were clapping of hands; the company formed a ring, in the midst of which two women, by turns, danced, and then joined the circle again. The next day they went in procession round the streets, which was continued for several days, the bride being supported by one

of her friends, accompanied by dancing, singing, &c. and receiving refreshments at various places, and accompanied by the governor. If an officer or settler want a wife, he must court the girl for a month, and then give a dinner, keeping open house for several days, which sometimes costs two hundred pounds. Among the poorer classes, it is common for every one who goes to a wedding-dinner to give each a piece of money, as they can afford. Travellers bear testimony to the modest and orderly conduct of the black young women, though climate makes them go almost naked.

The inhabitants of the right bank of the SENEGAL, are more solicitous to obtain corpulent women than graceful, and she that can move with the assistance of two men is but an indifferent beauty; while the lady who cannot stir, and is only to be removed on a camel, with long teeth projecting out of her mouth, is esteemed as a perfect paragon. To obtain this corpulence, mothers feed their daughters with a stuff called cuscus, which induces fat and unwieldiness, so necessary to obtain admirers. When a woman is brought to bed, if it be of a daughter, she blacks her face half over, in which state she suffers it

Y

to remain twenty days; but if she have a hoy, she blacks her face all over, and lets it continue forty days, in which state they make a most dismal appearance.

The inhabitants of JEDDO punish adultery in the following manner:-The woman is close shaved, which they look upon as the greatest disgrace which can be inflicted upon a female; the man pays a fine, and upon failure thereof the injured party has a right to strip him quite naked wherever he finds him, and has also a right to demand assistance of any who are at hand.

Some of the African tribes have no form of marriage, merely purchasing the girl of her father for a few bottles of brandy, or at most a few clothes, upon payment of which, the father conducts his daughter to the hut of her husband, who immediately orders her to fetch water or some other domestic employment, that she may immediately be acquainted with her future occu pations.

AMERICA.

SOUTH AMERICA.

AMONG the PERUVIANS, they celebrate marriage in the following singular manner.

The

Inca, in whose person was vested the highest dignities of chief priest of the sun, and king of men, convoked annually to Cusco all the marriageable young men and women of his family. The stated age for the former was twenty-four years, for the latter, eighteen. They were not permitted to marry earlier, as not being considered before that period capable of managing their families. The Inca being seated, the parties who had agreed to an union stood by each other, forming a circle round him. After calling them by name he joined their hands, and exacted a promise of mutual fidelity from them; he then delivered them to their parents. The celebration of the wedding was kept at the bride