Abigah junior has two wives. Now, there are tribes much lower in the scale of civilisation than the Mohamedans of Northern Nigeria when the more wives a man has the prouder each of them is to be one, as the larger the number the greater the husband’s importance. They are not reciprocally jealous. It is different with the Fulani, the Hausa, the Beri-Beri and cognate folk. A man has to be both tactful and firm to maintain peace in the domestic circle. Abigah told me he determined to start with that object in view, and therefore directly he put on double matrimonial harness he informed his spouses, in kindly but decisive tones, “Remember, there must be no wrangling. If either of you want to quarrel, quarrel with me.” His admonition has been effective. In the higher castes wives do not sit at meals with the husband, though in some cases they cook for him. It would not be considered dignified for him to be seen by them eating. The food is carried to him by a male servant. Where wives are on good terms together the husband’s cooking is done co-operatively. When strained relations make that course impracticable, wives take in turns culinary duty two or three days each. “Never,” Abigah warned me, “tell one she is a better cook than the other in the hearing of that other.” “Why?” I innocently asked. “Because,” he replied, “there is nothing so likely to make a woman bad-tempered and spiteful to her own sex than being inferentially belittled by praise of someone she knows well.” At times Abigah has to leave on business for weeks. He takes one wife. I enquired, “But is there no rivalry as to which shall be with you?” “Oh, yes,” he exclaimed, “and I manage it in this way. For several days previous to going I am very soothing to the one to be left, reminding her she is to go next and promising to bring her a present of a fine piece of cloth.” “You keep your promise?” “Certainly.” “Does the wife who has been your companion regard your company as preferable to a length of cloth?” “Well,” said Abigah, confidentially, “I give her a little present, too; something small, so as to make matters as nearly equal as possible to both. Never,” he added, advising as though I were about to plunge into polygamy, “let any wife believe you like another better. Make each think she is _the_ one.” A domestic diplomat is Abigah. Reference has just been made to domestic slaves. As the subject may not be fully understood at home a short explanation is offered. Under British suzerainty the capture of any person as a slave, as well as sale, exchange or gift of a slave have been prohibited; and all children born of slave parents after the promulgation of that declaration were to be free. It may be asked by worthy individuals at home, who only England know, why Great Britain should assent to the status of slavery in any shape or degree? [Illustration: ABIGAH (SEATED) AND HIS TWO WIVES. (See page 120.)] [Illustration: TUREG TRADERS FROM LAKE CHAD.