TheCburade in Ireland & Persia^ 



CHAPTER IV 



IT was observed by the explorers of South 

 America that certain Indian tribes had a 

 most singular custom, one which has hitherto 

 failed to be explained. When a child was 

 born to an Indian of note, the father was 

 put to bed and tended with as much care as 

 if he were the mother. This went so far that 

 the mother was neglected, whilst her lord 

 and master assumed all the airs of the real 

 sufferer. Certain Tupi tribes still practise this 

 custom and the startling fact has since been 

 observed that the odd habit once existed among 

 the Basques of Spain. It is less generally 



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