Newsgroups: sci.anthropology
From: live_wire@cix.compulink.co.uk (Andrew Clifton)
Subject: No subject 
Reply-To: live_wire@cix.compulink.co.uk
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 23:29:00 +0000

The "Kingdom of Women"

  Can anyone confirm the following, with a reference?

      "The lost kingdom of the Minaros was 'discovered' in a mountain
      hideaway 16,000 ft up in the Himalayas by a French explorer in
      1984.  The Amazon-like women totally dominate their men, marry-
      ing several at a time and keeping them in line with brute force.
      The explorer Michael Peissel said: 'I have seen the women strik-
      ing their men in public.  They are terribly argumentative, noisy
      and bossy - the men are petrified of them.'  In ancient Chinese
      texts this remote region in the Himalayas is known as the 'King-
      dom of Women', so female power on the rooftop of the world has
      been going for a long time."

                  - from "Love Around the World" by Lailan Young

  One suspects that Peissel's account might perhaps be tainted by a
  little male chauvinism..!!  I would be interested to know whether
  any _female_ anthropologists have visited this "Lost Kingdom".
  Alas, Yound's book is designed for titillating entertainment - it
  does not give any sources or references at all.

  Are there any other documented cases of present-day, strongly matri-
  archal communities?  On the subject of Polyandry, Young claims that:

      "Husbands are shared in numerous communities around the world.
      These include the Todas and Nayars of India, many Tibetans, and
      also the Bhots and Lepchas of the Himalayas and many mountain
      tribes in Asia.  Chukchi hunters and herders in Siberia also
      seek safety in numbers, marrying in a group and sharing sexual
      rights to each others' women.  The marriage ceremony is called
      _newtumgit_, which means 'partners in wives'.

      "Wives are also shared by Margis in west Africa and Kamberis
      and Katabs of Nigeria, while Pahaariis of north India will pool
      their resources with other members of the family - usually
      their brothers - to raise the bride-price to purchase a wife.
      They get another wife when they can afford it."

  I would be interested in references on these, and similar cases -
  although they're not necessarily indicative of matriarchy, or of
  a relatively equal status between men and women.  Young also men-
  tions "free love" behaviour among the Rega and Babua communities
  in Zaire, and the Korongo and Mesakin women of Sudan (references,
  anyone?) and she reports that:

     "Kabala women of northern Colombia not only practice free
     love, but free rape as well, and few men are safe.  In fact,
     many men are impotent because their sex initiation was
     provided by wisened, toothless widows."

     "Every Trobriand woman envies the (women) weeders in the
     villages of Okayaulo, Bwaga, Kuilabwaga, Louya, Bwadela and
     Vakuta: they have the right to ravish a man whom they have
     never seen before.  A male visitor to these villages who
     has not been warned about the lady weeders is in for a
     tough time..."

     "Not only is a Sotho wife [in Namibia] allowed to have lovers,
     but her husbands must _pay_ the lover for his services."

  I would be most interested to know whether or not any of this
  is true.  I would like to conduct some serious research on two
  semi-related subjects - matriarchy, past and present, and
  polyandry/polygamy, or complex marriage.  Any help would be
  most appreciated.


ANDREW CLIFTON
Newsgroups: sci.anthropology