Desertion. While desertion did not occur frequently during the period 500-1590, it did happen. Though a woman might leave her husband because of physical abuse, she brought shame to her family unless she was able to establish proof sufficient to constitute grounds for divorce. A woman who deserted her husband normally took refuge in her father's compound or village until her reasons for leaving her husband were established. If there were not sufficient evidence to justify her action, the woman's senior brothers or uncles immediately returned her to her husband's family. At this point the husband had the choice of taking her back into his household or rejecting her and asking for his dowry back. He was especially likely to do the latter if he had reason to believe that her desertion was a result of infidelity.

Infidelity. If a...