The houses of Hums are built around a square area into which all the rooms open, and the open space or court of the mission-house was very large.

Before the brides arrived, the entire court, the church and the schoolroom, were packed with a noisy and almost riotous throng.

Men, women and children were laughing and talking, shouting and screaming to one another, and discussing the extraordinary innovation on Hums customs about to be enacted.

Soon the brides arrived, accompanied by a veiled and sheeted crowd of women, all carrying candles and singing as they entered the house.

We took them into the study of the native preacher Sulleba, and after a reasonable delay, we forced a way for them through the crowd into the large square room, then used as a church.