8 x 10" Negative. Image depicting the women of Masai. Hoefler's original description: "Masai Wives and Maidens. The Masai were once the most powerful of all East African tribes. They are now widely scattered and due to the white man's intrusion and stopping of inter-tribal warfare, many of their ancient customs are dying out. They still maintain, however, the rule of having as many wives as they can arrange to buy. In this district the average price was two steers, two cows, and one drum of honey beer per virgin, with second hand wives somewhat less, the price depending on the law of supply and demand. It is the duty of the women to care for the calves as well as their children. The Masai is a large tribe and widely scattered so that it would be hard to say exactly what the customs of the tribe were, especially now that the white man's intrusion has tended to change their customs. I talked to the old chiefs and can say with authority that they still buy wives with cattle, the price being two steers, two cows, and one drum of honey beer. Of course the prices changed up and down according to the demand and supply, but at the present time the market is firm at the above price. A Masai can have as many wives as he can afford to buy.
Donor:
Jacqueline Hoefler Troyer, Paul L. Hoefler, and Sharon Cordary
Collection place:
Tanzania
Maker or artist:
Paul L. Hoefler
Collector:
Paul L. Hoefler
Collection date:
1928-1929
Materials:
Cellulose nitrate film
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Black-and-white negatives and Drums (membranophones)