394 SYSTEMS OF CONSANGUINITY AND AFFINITY 



Ego of the children of liis cousins intervene, whcrcia the true principles of the 

 system, as elsewhere stated, are contravened. 



All of the maternal parts of the Tamilian system of relationship have now been 

 presented with fulness and particularity. There were reasons for so doing which 

 reach beyond any importance this form of consanguinity might possess as a local 

 domestic institution. It is seen to be the same system, in fulness, precision, and 

 complexity, as well as in radical characteristics, with that which now prevails in 

 the principal branches of the Ganowanian family. For the purpose of showing 

 this great fact amongst others, and of making it expressive, the mass of materials 

 in the several Tables have been accumulated. It is in great part with reference to 

 the ultimate uses to be made of this fact of identity of system upon the American 

 and Asiatic continents that such an elaborate presentation of the systems of the 

 several families of mankind was believed to be necessary. 



Several general considerations remain to be noticed. It is apparent from the 

 foregoing exposition that the Tamilian system proceeds with the utmost regularity, 

 and that it is coherent, self-sustaining, and harmonious throughout, although it cre- 

 ates the largest conceivable diversity in the relationships of blood-kindred. As a 

 plan of consanguinity it is stupendous in form, and complicated in its details, and 

 seemingly arbitrary and artificial in its structure, when judged by ordinary stan- 

 dards. The fundamental conceptions upon which it rests are not only clearly 

 defined, but they are enforced with rigorous precision. From the manner of their 

 use the primary terms are divested of their strict signification, whence father and 

 mother cease to convey the idea of progenitors, son and daughter, grandson and 

 granddaughter that of direct lineal descent from Ego ; and brother and sister that 

 of birth from common parents, unless we assvime the prevalence of a wide-spread 

 system of intermarriage or cohabitation amongst relatives, which would render 

 these relationships those which actually existed. 



It will be observed, as another prominent feature of the system, that a proper 

 classification of kindred under it involved an exact knowledge of the degrees of 

 consano-uinity numerically, since the several collateral relationships depend upon 

 the distance in degree of related persons from the common ancestor. For example, 

 the collateral brother of Ego, to stand in this relation, must be equally distant with 

 himself from the common ancestor, the collateral father one degree less, the col- 

 lateral son one degree further, and the collateral grandson two degrees further 

 removed. To apply the proper terms Avith facility and correctness required a 

 knowledge of the chain of connection as well as of the principles of the system, 

 and also the certainty of parentage. 



There are also three fundamental conceptions embodied in the Tamilian system, 

 which were previously found in the Ganowanian, which, if they do not form its 

 basis, contain the principal part of its substance. These are, first, that the children 

 of own brothers should be brothers and sisters to each other ; that the sons of these 

 collateral brothers should be brothers again, and the daughters of these collateral 

 sisters should be sisters again ; and that the same rule should continue downwards 

 amongst their descendants at equal removes in an infinite series. Second, that the 

 children of own sisters should, in like manner, be brothers and sisters ; and that 



