The Hottentots of the Damara tribe have on this point similar customs to the New Caledonians. They do not hesitate to send away the wives of whom they are tired, and whom they can replace.[720] In Caffraria the husbands have also every right, without exception, over the wives they have bought.[721] In middle Africa, which is much more civilised, divorce and repudiation are rather less simple, and often give place to restitutions or indemnities. With the Bongos, in case of divorce, the father must give back a part of the utensils or fire-arms for which he had ceded his daughter. He is even forced to a total restitution, if the husband keeps the children while repudiating the wife. In the last case there is evidently an idea of indemnifying the husband for the charge he undertakes, and this view of the matter is not uncommon in Africa.[722] Among the Bongos marriage is considered as a simple commercial transaction; and it is the same in the whole of Central Africa, especially among the Soulimas, where the women have the power of leaving their husbands to unite themselves to another man, on the sole condition of returning to their husband-proprietor the sum that he has paid to purchase them from their parents. However, this rare and singular liberty is taken from them if they commit adultery. But even in this last case they are treated with relative mildness.[723] As we have previously seen, the same custom is observed among the Fantis of the Gold Coast, where the woman who quits her husband without a serious reason, taking her children with her, need only pay him a fixed indemnity--four ackies (twenty-two shillings and sixpence) for each child.[724] In the same way the Ashantees consider children a value worth keeping; thus their women can re-marry after a three years’ absence of their husband; and in case of the traveller’s return, it is the second marriage which holds good, only all the children that are his become the property of the first husband.[725] In fact, that equals an indemnity, since in Africa children are generally considered as a commercial value. In Polynesia the conjugal bond could be untied, as it was tied, with the greatest ease. In the Marquesas Isles the husband and wife parted of mutual accord, in case of incompatibility of temper, and all was over; but if without his authorisation the wife deserted the conjugal hut to follow a lover, the husband watched for her and administered furious and repeated corrections.[726] At Hawaï the marriage was also dissolved at will, if the husband and wife were agreed on this point.[727] At Tahiti the unions were of the frailest; the husband and wife parted without ceremony, and the children were no obstacle, for by a previous agreement they were made over to one or other of the partners.[728] It was the same in the Caroline Isles, where, though the race was different, the customs were analogous, and married couples could divorce themselves at will.[729]