Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 - 1956), Saturday 13 August 1938, page 23


BUYING A WIFE ON THE INSTALMENT PLAN

IN THE BELGIAN CONGO, A 2ANDE TRIBESMAN CAN BUY A WIFE FOR AS LITTLE AS £1. AND IS EVEN ABLE TO PAY ON THE INSTALMENT PLAN, ACCORDING TO MISS MYRTLE L. WILSON, MISSIONARY OF THE AFRICAN INLAND MISSION.

Miss Wilson, whose headquarters are at Duugti, iu the Cougo, is op the way to Muncie, Ind., to visit relatives. 'The Zande~,': she said, 'are still devoted to many strange practices, although they have dropped canpibalfem, practiced .yea iis ajro. They practice polygamy and 'buy their wives, and at the present time the curren: market is around £1 or its equivalent in food, farm implements, or almost anything eL?e of value. 'In recent years the popular American eastnm of INSTALMENT BUYING ha6 been adopted, and it is not unusual for a Z~i.ile LucJi U- mate a. doivn payment before the birth of his wife, provided he is satisfied with the prospecte of getting a healthy, handsome wife. And if Be fails to make the payments later the girl's parents or brothers come around and reclaim her.''' Miss Wilson said that all disputes involving wife buying are settled by the chief medicine man of the tribe. The Zande husband is usually a goor] maiuijror. providing for ^yi.-'i wife a private hut and a specific assignment o; pork, . 4he added. .— ,-, . , ,,„,-?-