Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Notes on the Tribes, Provinces, Emirates and States of the Northern Provinces of Nigeria: Compiled From Official Reports
The Chief is assisted by a Council of Elders, who Sit on judicial cases, and recourse may be had to sasswood ordeal. Murder is punished by death, but not necessarily that of the criminal himself it is more frequently arranged on a principle of exchange. In a case of manslaughter the bereaved family are apportioned a share of the blood - money, the remainder going to the Court. Theft is punished by ?ogging and a fine. Rape is punished by flogging and a fine. An adulterer is fined, but if the woman runs away with him the couple are pursued and the woman recovered; if the occurrence is frequent the co respondent is obliged to supply the aggrieved husband with a woman of his own family in exchange.
Not only each man, but each woman, has a right to take up such unoccupied lands within the village boundaries as She can farm; but sons must work on their father's farms.
Marriage is arranged by exchange, a groom giving his Sister or some other blood-relation in exchange for his bride. Should a woman leave her husband the woman for whom She was origin ally exchanged must do likewise, but if the one has children and the other has not desertion is not permitted. Should a man be without suitable female relations he may be allowed to marry, but in that case his offspring belong to his wife's family. There is no limit to the number of wives, five or six being quite common.
On the birth of an infant it is taken to the temple, where a ceremony is held, which includes much beer drinking.
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