.MTA2MQ.NzE4NDk

Divorce. This is at the choice of either of the parties: the man may marry again as soon as he will, but she is bound till all the Boosketau? of that year are over. Excepting in the case of marriage and parting in the season when there is no planting, or more properly speaking, during the season the man resides at the house of the woman and has possession of her during the continuation of the marriage ceremony, in that case the woman is equally free to connect herself as soon as she pleases. There is an inconsistency in the exception mentioned above, as, in fact, in such season, there can be no marriage; but the chiefs on their report on this article mentioned it as an exception, and this practice, in these cases of half marriages, prevails universally. As soon as a man goes to the house of his Bride, he is in complete possession of her, till the ceremony ends & during this period the exception will apply. Marriage gives no right to the husband over the property of his wife & when they part, she keeps the children & property belonging to them. Adultery. This is punished by the family or tribe of the husband. They collect, consult & decree. If the proof is clear, & they determine to punish the offenders, they divide & proceed to apprehend them. One half go to the house of the woman - the remainder to the family house of the adulterer.