VIEWS OF PRIMITIVE MARRIAGE. 



205 



I have failed to perceive any other. Two things, however, are clear, 

 as forming the basis on which his theory stands : 



1. That " female infanticide " was the general practice among the 

 " primary hordes " in other words, that they killed many more female 

 children than male. 



2. That exogamous tribes existed under " circumstances in which 

 men could only get wives by capturing them " in other words, that 

 these tribes could not marry anyichere within their oicn boundaries, 

 and were consequently compelled to capture their wives, there being 

 no possibility of friendly intermarriage with other tribes. 



Let us now test this basis, and see if it be secure : It is well known 

 that infanticide is a very common practice among savage and barbaric 

 tribes, and the opinion seems to prevail that " female infanticide " 

 the killing of female children rather than male is the general rule. 

 This opinion is undoubtedly correct as to many tribes ; but I venture 

 to suggest that it needs reconsideration as far as the loicer savages 

 are concerned, and it is with them that the theory now under consid- 

 eration has to do. I think it will be found that the practice is far less 

 common with them than it is among the tribes who are more advanced, 

 and for this opinion I will now endeavor to show cause. 



Savages are perfectly logical people in their own way, and do not 

 act without a motive, which, to their minds at least, is a sufficient one. 

 So thoroughly have I been convinced of this by my fifteen years' 

 residence among them, and close observation of their ways, that I do 

 not hesitate to affirm that, whenever their acts appear capricious to us, 

 we may be quite sure we do not understand their motives. The sav- 

 age has no hesitation in killing his infant children, whether male or 

 female, if they be in his way ; but he does not kill any one of them 

 for the mere sake of killing, and he certainly would not kill his daugh- 

 ters rather than his sons without a sufficient motive. Is such a motive 

 to be found among the lower savages ? 



The reasons usually given for female infanticide are thus stated by 

 Sir John Lubbock and Mr. McLennan : 



" Female children became a source of weakness in various ways. 

 They ate and did not hunt. They weakened their mothers when 

 young, and when grown up were a temptation to surrounding 

 tribes." * 



To the same effect Mr. McLennan observes : "To tribes sur- 

 rounded by enemies and unaided by art, contending with the difficul- 

 ties of subsistence, sons were a source of strength, both for defense 

 and in quest of food, daughters a source of weakness." f 



The motive here advanced is, that females are an incumbrance to 

 savages, and for this four reasons are given : 



1. " They weaken their mothers when young." 



* " Origin of Civilization," second edition, p. 108. 

 f "Studies," etc., p. 111. 



