Buying a Wife on Instalments

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 103, 22 July 1927, Page 13

Buying a Wife on Instalments

THE DINKA WAY LIFE IN THE SUDAN Even in the heart of the Sudan it is impossible to escape a certain amount of expense in taking to yourself a wife. According to Mr. Keith Rimmer, who has just returned for a brief respite from his missionary labours at Rom. a Dinka wife, based on the present demand is worth zO head of cattle. The initial outlay, however, is lightened somewhat by a hire instalment principle whereby the prospective bridegroom is enabled to pay live head of cattle down on the announcement of the engagement and the remaining 15 before the ceremony. It is understood, however, that very little credit is given. From a missionary point of view Mr. Rimmer considered that the system had much to commend it. He found that as a result of this marriage custom the morals of the Dinka tribe compared more favourably than was the case with other natives. Much better care was taken of the female children, possibly in view of their prospective value to the parents, while the marriage conditions generally were muc|i better. Mr. Rimmer, who, with Mrs. Rimmer, is to lecture at the Unity Hall on Monday, August 1, on his experiences in the Sudan, has been stationed at Rom, a missionary settlement controlled by the Sudan United Mission and situated 500 miles south of Khartoum. EXTRAORDINARY HEIGHT Their work, he explained to a SUN representative, was being carried out among the Dinkas, a tribe among whom practically no missionary work has previously been undertaken. The tribe is noted for the extraordinary height attained .by its members, Oft lOin being a common height among the men, while it was quite usual to see boys of 16 or 17 over six feet. They art ordinary negroes, but on account of their commanding inches, of a much better type than usual. Among the customs explained by Mr. Rimmer was the pleasant little habit of digging out the front lower teeth of the children when they attain the age of 10 years. Like many of the European aids to beauty no explanation of the custom can be given by the natives. That it is done by all their best people is probably also acceptable to the native. The dictates of fashion also insist upon the shaving of the heads of both sexes. An indulgence is granted, however, during the courting period, when the young men whose thoughts in the springtime have turned lightly to love are permitted to dispense with the services of the village barber. Great pains are then taken to attain a presentable appearance, a plentiful supply of oil, and red and white ochre being used in the hairdressing operations. Mr. Rimmer found the natives to be rather hard to approach, and the fact that they were largely governed by superstition did not tend to make his work easier. HEAT AND MOSQUITOES The “spirit in the trees" (wood) and the “spirit of the rain" were imaginary spirits that were greatly feared, and any disaster that befell them was generally attributed to one or the other. The climate was particularly trying, said Mr. Rimmer. Their station being situated on the plains the heat in the daytime was very severe, and on account of the prevalence of mosquitoes it was practically impossible to obtain any relief in the evenings by venturing out of doors. The nearest station was 50 miles away, and that was their closest proximity to other Europeans. Before returning to their station Mr. and Mrs. Rimmer will give a number of addresses on their experiences, the meetings being conducted under the auspices of the United Mission.