Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 15, 1904.djvu/277

Rh parents; these are driven at a gallop through the village into the cattle kraal. This is supposed to represent the eagerness of the parents to welcome their new daughter.

The remaining cattle are driven slowly along, the herds lustily singing the Basuto wedding-song; a sort of chant, the words expressing the joy felt by all the family that the son should have obtained so charming a wife. These cattle on reaching the village are also driven into the kraal. All the relations and friends of the bride then seat themselves on one side of the entrance to the kraal while the bridegroom's procession arrange themselves on the opposite side. For a short time dead silence prevails, until the bride's father joins the party and greets the visitors, after which everyone is allowed to talk. The bull and heifer are then driven out and commented upon, very fulsome compliments being exchanged. No girls are allowed to be seen anywhere about, and the bride must be shut up in her father's hut, her mother being kept a prisoner in another hut by herself.

After a few pleasantries the bride's father goes to tell his wife his opinion of the cattle. He then calls for Juala (strong beer), the first potful being given to the two men who drove the bull and heifer. After they have drunk as much as they can, they say—

"We are coming to borrow a cup of water for our son." "How many cattle have you brought?" asks the bride's father. They reply, "Thirty," or whatever the number may be. The cattle are then counted, and everyone drinks again. The bridegroom's friends then begin dancing, and all the girls of the village join the feast, with the exception of the bride and three chosen companions. Dancing continues more or less during the whole night. The next morning the bride's father chooses his fattest ox and has it killed, thus showing that the marriage contract is completed. The dewlap is cut off and divided into two strips, one of which is bound round the bride's wrist and the other sent