When, however, all has gone well, the suitor presents the woman of his choice with three or four iron necklaces, the acceptance of which betokens her willingness to be engaged. The man then hastens to inform his relations of what has occurred, and, if they approve of the transaction, they advise him to make a public offer of marriage. His female friends undertake this pleasant business for him, and the time chosen is the break of day. Taking a new hoe, or a few yards of calico, to present as a formal token of the engagement, they go to see the young lady. If she accepts the offering, the engagement is sealed; but if she refuses, the matter comes to an abrupt end. The betrothal is accompanied with shouting, singing, and great rejoicing, and the tremendous noise arouses the whole neighbourhood. Hence everybody in the place, both young and old, at once gets to know of the engagement, and the news is hailed as a welcome topic of gossip. [Illustration: COLLECTING THE CUSTOMARY TOLL FROM THE BRIDEGROOM AND HIS FRIEND. _From a Photo. by Rev. H. Cole._] When the man has secured a sufficient number of goats, etc., he apprises the woman's relations of his desire to "guma" (_i.e._, to pay the dowry). A day is appointed, and the match-making palaver takes place. Very often the negotiations are broken off because the amount of dowry is considered too small; and it may be interesting to set down here in detail the fees usually paid for a wife--the matrimonial price-list, so to speak. The dowry is divided into several parts, distinguished by separate names representing certain amounts, as under:-- "Wupogoze" (private proposal)--three chain necklaces (engagement ring). "Wubanye" (public proposal)--new hoe or four yards of calico. "Madango" (first part of dowry proper)--nine goats: five on account of the bride's father and four on account of the mother. "Matula lusona"--nine goats. "Lung' hundi"--seven goats. "Ibululu"--thirteen goats. "Musenga"--a goat with young to mother of bride. "Wufuwa"--a goat to uncle of bride. "Muvumba"--two yards of calico to the bride. "Malenga"--a second-hand hoe to father of the bride. It will be observed from this final offering that, as in civilized countries, the hapless father-in-law, having once given his consent, is treated as of little importance. The preliminaries being over, the marriage ceremony takes place. The bride and bridegroom, feigning bashfulness, run away and hide. When found they are brought (the latter carried on women's backs) to the altar. Here they are made to sit on stools, and are washed in turn, the bridegroom leading the way. He is washed by his brother-in-law, or, in his absence, by some other relative of the bride. This function being over, they are anointed with oil, and the mothers of the happy pair then enjoin them to love one another and to do their work as they ought. [Illustration: CARRYING HOME THE BRIDE. _From a Photo. by Rev. H. Cole._]