were quite different from those of his own race. He glanced about him
and noticed that the girls were fair to look upon, as they pounded maize
or stewed something that smelt very nice in earthen pots--especially
if you were hot and tired; and when one of the maidens turned round and
offered the stranger some dinner, he made up his mind that he would wed
her and nobody else.

So he sent a message to her parents asking their leave to take her for
his wife, and they came next day to bring their answer.

'We will give you our daughter,' said they, 'if you can pay a good price
for her. Never was there so hardworking a girl; and how we shall do
without her we cannot tell! Still--no doubt your father and mother will
come themselves and bring the price?'

'No; I have the price with me,' replied the young man; laying down a
handful of gold pieces. 'Here it is--take it.'

The old couple's eyes glittered greedily; but custom forbade them to
touch the price before all was arranged.

'At least,' said they, after a moment's pause, 'we may expect them to
fetch your wife to her new home?'

'No; they are not used to travelling,' answered the bridegroom. 'Let the
ceremony be performed without delay, and we will set forth at once. It
is a long journey.'

Then the parents called in the girl, who was lying in the sun outside
the hut, and, in the presence of all the village, a goat was killed, the
sacred dance took place, and a blessing was said over the heads of the
young people. After that the bride was led aside by her father, whose
duty it was to bestow on her some parting advice as to her conduct in
her married life.

'Be good to your husband's parents,' added he, 'and always do the will
of your husband.' And the girl nodded her head obediently. Next it was
the mother's turn; and, as was the custom of the tribe, she spoke to her
daughter:

'Will you choose which of your sisters shall go with you to cut your
wood and carry your water?'

'I do not want any of them,' answered she; 'they are no use. They will
drop the wood and spill the water.'

'Then will you have any of the other children? There are enough to
spare,' asked the mother again. But the bride said quickly:

'I will have none of them! You must give me our buffalo, the Rover of
the Plain; he alone shall serve me.'

'What folly you talk!' cried the parents. 'Give you our buffalo, the
Rover of the Plain? Why, you know that our life depends on him. Here
he is well