An African Romance. The Marriage of an English Officer to a Native Girl.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 237, 14 January 1888, Page 5

An African Romance.

The Marriage of an English Officer to a Native Girl.

London, December 16. — Sterling, ' sitting in the Chancery division to-day, had before Minna, romantic' niarriage case, arising' bitt of the death of Commander Bethel, -who was shot by the Boers in 1884 in^an 1 engagement in 'which, Sir -Charles Warreh also took part. Commander Bethety»afew. month's before his* death, had becdme en-* amouved of a native girU belonging to 1 the Baralbhg tribe. > He 'married her according to thorites ; of that tribe, the ceremohy consisting of the slaughter of an ox, the head of which' was to the mother of the bride, while 'the father was provided 1 with a plough. -The name of the brida was, Teepqo.- About ten days after the death of* Commander Bethel' she gave birth to a, daughter, vrho was subsequently baptised under the name of Mabetele, meaning thfe mbther of Bethel. ' *<>-' Jl . ;'; ' '■>'■ In support of" the statements, Mdntsifla, an 'African king, chief -of the Booralede Cavalry* made affidavit- to the effect -that Teepoo" was duly Tnarried , 'to Commander Bethel and that she* was not before! > married. Commander Bethel, ! by» his "will, left arcertain number of' heifers' to Tee"^oo, aiid* directed that if "a child 'were 1 born it should' be J educated" ! in BnglandK raf ter it reached B 'years of 'fiseV and if a'b r dy, 'that he should e'nt6r the" English army p but that Teepoo T sh6uld her "property 1 if she 'b6have T d impi<oj)erly. Commander Bethel left considerable -property irf'Yorki shire, 1 arid 1 the' question^ • before 'the" court was whether t the marriage was a legal one and the dati'ghter" consequently" legitimate and 'entitled the ''prdpettyJ '^Tastings; Q,>- C.," c6nt'ended''.that ?:f ihts v was/'hot ''a polygamous marriage and was^hs'ebjWeritly valid.* ' Thera" nlay'hare<been !i pdlygatny ; !n" theßdralotigjtkbs; blit Cbmmahder^Be'tHel lived ;wft>h- Teepoo hibtfMy.'*wife'i J/ a s «d hadihb intention df*cdmmittirfg ! ]3blygamy:). "i ,; in i ».'<' '■ "' *j» *'" ' >1 ' ''"■' '''> f ' ji " f