The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1873-01-25
Domestic Relations Of the Different
Nations.

That monogamy is not the only kind
of marriage, we are, indeed, early
taught by ouri Bible lessons. But
though the conception Of polygamy is
thus made somewhat familiar, it does
not occur to us that polyandry is also
possible arrangement and we are sur
prised on first learning that 1t not only
exists, but was once extremely general.
When we contemplate these marital in
stitutions unlike our own, we cannot at
first imagine that they can be practiced
with a sense of propriety like that with
which we practice ours. Yet Living
stone narrates that in a tribe bordering
one of the central African lakes, tho wo-
men were quite disgusted ON hearing
that in England a man has only ono
wife. This is a feeling by no means
peculiar TO them. An intelligent Kan
dyan chief with whom Mr.. Bailey visit
ed these Veddahs was perfectly scandal
lied at the utter barbarism Of living
with only one wife, and never parting
until separated by death. It was, he
said, "iust like the wanderooss" (mon-
keys.) Again, one would suppose that.
as a matter of course, monogamy, poly
gamy and polyaniry, in it's several varie-
ties, exhausted the possible forms Of
marriage. An utterly unexpected form
is furnished us by one of the African
tribes. Marriage, among them, is for
so many days in the week. commonly
for four days in the week, which is said
to be the "custom" in the best fapiles;-
the wife. dzyil,e.. .....-----s-. ~
- = ~
tie surprised, too, on reading that by
some of the Hill tribes of India, un-
faithfulness on the part Of the husband
is held to be n grave offense, but un-
faithfulness on the part of the wife
trivial one. We assume, as self-evident,
that good usage of wife by husband
implies, among other things. absence of
violence; and hence it seems scarcely
imaginable that in some places the OPP
posite criterion holds. Yet it does 80
among the Tartars. A nurse maid of
mine, writes Mrs. Anderson in her
Tartar Steps" left me to DO married,
and some short time after she went to
the Natchalnich of the place to make
complaint against her husband. He in
quired into the matter, when she coolly
told him her husband did not love her.
He asked how she knew he did not lovo
her: because, she replied, "he never
whipped her" 4 statement which
might be rejected as incredible were II
not for the analogous fact that, among
the South African races, white master
who does not thrash his men is ridicul-
ed and reproached by them as not
worthy to be called a master. Among
domestic customs, again, who, if he
had been set to imagine all possible an
omalies, would have hit upon that which
is found among the Basques, and has
existed among other races-the custom
that on the birth Of a child the
husband goes to bed and receives
the congratulations Of his friends,
while his wife returns to her household
work? Or who, among tho results Of
having a son born, would dream Of that
which occurs among some Polynesian
races, where the father is forthwith dis
posed of his property, and becomes
simply a guardian Of it on behalf of the
infant? The varieties OF flial relations
and of accompanying sentiments con
tinually show us things equally strange,
and at first sight equally unaccountable.
it seems hardly credible that it should
anywhere be thought a duty on the part
+ OF children 70 bury tiIerr lsr-r-aty--rii~~v
Yet it is thoEght among the Fiiians; OF
whom we read also that the parents
thus put out of the way go to their
graves with smiling faces. Scarcely
! less incredible does it seem that man E
affection should be regarded as more fit
/ " shown toward the children of others
/ than toward his own children. Yet tho
Hill tribes of India supply an example.