The natives of British Central Africa . I. Mai-MAK!N(; To face /•. Tg6 ARTS, INDUSTRIES, ETC. 197 sewing classes at the missions, by way of making them* womanly, they are mostly pain and grief. One of ahusbands duties is to sew his wifes calico ; if heneglects this it is held to be a sufficient ground fordivorce. It is curious to notice the sort of conventionthat has grown up about these things. Originally, Isuppose, these and similar occupations were lookedon as light and elegant relaxations for gentlemen whocame back weary from the wars, or from hunting, orfrom a six months trip to the coast
The natives of British Central Africa . I. Mai-MAK!N(; To face /•. Tg6 ARTS, INDUSTRIES, ETC. 197 sewing classes at the missions, by way of making them* womanly, they are mostly pain and grief. One of ahusbands duties is to sew his wifes calico ; if heneglects this it is held to be a sufficient ground fordivorce. It is curious to notice the sort of conventionthat has grown up about these things. Originally, Isuppose, these and similar occupations were lookedon as light and elegant relaxations for gentlemen whocame back weary from the wars, or from hunting, orfrom a six months trip to the coast, and so graduallybecame exclusively appropriated to them. I once inmy ignorance asked an old woman if she could makeme a basket, and she replied in a slightly shocked tonethat it was nchito ya amuna—mens work. I imagine,though I never heard the point raised, that it would belittle if at all short of improper for a man to set aboutmaking pots. The word ruka, to weave, is used both for theweaving of cloth and the making of mats and
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectethnology, bookyear19
