Sumali, the young daughter of King Dula, knows her faith: if she should fail to marry a white boy she would be whipped and mutilated like all the other women in the kraal, and she would spend the rest of her life by digging up the fields or being abused by her husband! Africa is a savage continent and so are its tribal traditions: little Pierre from the tobacco plantation across the river is her only hope to break out of the vicious circle of male domination and physical mutilation . . .