40 cows? She's a stunner

[bobleponge]

Having my brekkie this morning (Oh how I love watermelon and carrot jam on toast) I noticed one of my drivers with tears running down his face. Turns out he's getting married on the 21st December. His father has already agreed to buy his new wife, for the princely sum of 40 cows. The going rate round here is only 20 cows for a wife, so she is clearly some looker the young lady.
Unfortunately father has had his cows rustled over the last 2 nights, (happens a lot round here) and so now he is going to have to settle for a rather tawdry 10 cow lady. He is beside himself. I suggested maybe waiting till dad rustles some cows back, for at least a 20 cow'er but due to his age and all the plans already being made, he has to be married on the 21st.
On the plus side, when dad gets his cows back, he can go and find himself another wife, which dad has already agreed to buy.
Not sure if I would be happy with a 10 cow'er myself (and I am making no reference to any of my former partners who may be reading this posting) but he most certainly isnt!

[Stacey Steve]

He may be able to up the anti if all the 10 cows are in calf and free use of a bull twice a year for a couple of years. That should get a 20/30 cow'er don't you think.

If he goes for the 10 cow'er and later upgrades to a 40, what does he do with the 10? Is there a trade in system?

[MaureenHall]

That's absolutely fascinating, learning about the marriage rituals of other cultures. While I don't necessarily agree with the practice, maybe that's because I wasn't brought up in that culture and I know of other ways. That's a good point Stacey Steve brought up, what does happen to the 10-cower when he upgrades?

[bobleponge]

They dont do a trade in system here. He will keep the original 10 cower, plus however many other wives he feels he can look after. One of my other drivers has 3 wives, and there is a lad who works on another camp nearby who has 11 wives, and 37 kids. His father was very rich, and held over 400 head of cattle, so purchased many wives for his eldest son.
It is fascinating to see other cultures, which is why I love to travel, and like you Maureen, dont always agree with what I see, but never pass comment when there as it isnt my culture.
However, having seen some of the women here, I can see why young Stephen wouldnt be happy with a 10 cower!! (says Robert Redford himself!!)

[snuffer]

Talking of the marriage rites of other cultures. I remember when I was at school we were discussing this topic as part of an R. E. lesson. The teacher, who was particularly unpleasant, said to the only Asian boy in the class (probably the only one in the school) assuming his family were not Christians 'I supose your parents had an arranged marriage'. The boy replied 'yes, my father arranged to be at the church and my mother arranged to meet him there'. It really put the bigot in his place.

[MaureenHall]

Talking of the marriage rites of other cultures. I remember when I was at school we were discussing this topic as part of an R. E. lesson. The teacher, who was particularly unpleasant, said to the only Asian boy in the class (probably the only one in the school) assuming his family were not Christians 'I supose your parents had an arranged marriage'. The boy replied 'yes, my father arranged to be at the church and my mother arranged to meet him there'. It really put the bigot in his place.

Love it Good for him!!!!

[Nicos]

Tell him it's personality what counts !!!!

[Marthaclematis]

You're not talking about Northern France ??!!

[bobleponge]

Marthaclematis, whilst some of those other practices may be carried out to a greater or lesser extent in France, there would be absolutely no chance of finding water melon and carrot jam on anyones breakfast table.
These are the delights of (and only of I should imagine) sunny Southern Sudan.
I have explained that he should love his wife no matter how many cows he thinks she equates to, however that didnt seem to cut the mustard with young Stephen.
Love the arranged marriage line Snuffer.

[FionaH]

'I supose your parents had an arranged marriage'. The boy replied 'yes, my father arranged to be at the church and my mother arranged to meet him there'. It really put the bigot in his place.

what a fabulous line!

[Flummery]

A student of my husband's from Biafra, had married a wife he was extremely pleased with but kept hanging fire on part of the 'payment'. He still owed the girl's family a goat. It seemed that if he didn't pay up, he couldn't visit or be visited by the in-laws. What a blow eh!

[SlugLobber]

SL starts working out how many cows she's worth...

[Farmer_Gyles]

i've been single all these years and all i had to do was get some cows .....

i'll settle for nothing less than a 100 cow'er ....

[kernowyon]

i had one that cost me about �45,000 when we had to sell the house as part of the divorce settlement.

[lynda66]

reminds me of when i visited tunisia, we went round the market, and my b/f of the time, kept being offered camels and donkeys, i was feeling quite pleased with myself realising i was worth 5 camels and 4 donkeys ....... till he told the bloke he was bartering with ...... that he could have me for a hamster ....... he was very definitely ex when we got home.