In case of divorce, custom decreed that the cows with their offspring should be given back.

The objection to any other property than cows changing hands to bind or loose in wedlock was that food, for instance, when eaten was not returnable.
"Married to the gal for good an! all!"' Brown grinned, nudging Will and me to note Fred's consternation.

"You'd better stay here an' take the chief's job when he kicks the bucket--possibly you can speed the day by overfeedin' him!" "Some men's luck," Will murmured, but stopped in mid-sentence, for interruption came in the form of a weird figure, gesticulating like a windmill, stumbling and careening through the gloom, shouting as it came.

Not until it was thirty yards away did an intelligible sound explain at least who the apparition was.
"Gassharamminy! Give me that gun!" Coutlass burst in among us so out of breath that he could not force through his teeth another rational syllable, but he made his intentions partly clear by snatching at Fred's rifle, persisting until Will and I pulled him off.
"The dhow's gone!" he panted at last.

"Give me that rifle, or come yourself! Hurry! There's a wind! You'll be too late!" "You're dreaming or drunk!" Fred answered, but Coutlass refused to be disbelieved, and in another moment we were all running as fast as we dared through the darkness toward the camp-fires, where we had left the Goanese snoozing and the dhow snugly moored among the rocks.
The chief and his followers far outdistanced us in spite of their gorged condition--all except the woman, who jogged dutifully, although unhappily, behind Fred.