bandumba of
the Jagas. She was of Arab blood, and a cannibal by practice. She
fought many battles, achieved great victories, flirted with beautiful
young savages, and finally was poisoned.

The African is not altogether without law.

"Justice appears, upon the whole, to be pretty fairly
administered among the Makololo. A headman took some beads
and a blanket from one of his men who had been with us; the
matter was brought before the chief; and he immediately
ordered the goods to be restored, and decreed, moreover,
that no headman should take the property of the men who had
returned. In theory all the goods brought back belonged to
the chief; the men laid them at his feet, and made a formal
offer of them all: he looked at the articles, and told the
men to keep them. This is almost invariably the case. Tuba
Mokoro, however, fearing lest Sekeletu might take a fancy to
some of his best goods, exhibited only a few of his old and
least valuable acquisitions. Masakasa had little to show: he
had committed some breach of native law in one of the
villages on the way, and paid a heavy fine rather than have
the matter brought to the doctor's ears. Each carrier is
entitled to a portion of the goods in his bundle, though
purchased by the chief's ivory; and they never hesitate to
claim their rights; but no wages can be demanded from the
chief if he fails to respond to the first application."[76]

We have found considerable civil and criminal law among the different
tribes. We gave an account of the civil and criminal code of Dahomey
in the chapter on that empire. In the Congo country all civil suits
are brought before a judge. He sits on a mat under a large tree, and
patiently hears the arguments _pro_ and _con_. His decisions are
final. There is no higher court, and hence no appeal. The criminal
cases are brought before the _Chitome_, or priest. He keeps a sacred
fire burning in his house that is never suffered to go out. He is
supported by the lavish and delicate gifts of the people, and is held
to be sacred. No one is allowed to approach his house except on the
most urgent business. He never dies, so say the people. When he is
seriously sick his legal successor steals quietly into his house, and
beats his brains out, or strangles him to death. It is his duty to
hear all criminal cases, and to this end he makes a periodical circui