The Evolution of Morality. 209 



to determine the development of conjugal rela 

 tions among mankind by an examination of the 

 origin and meaning of the symbol of capture in 

 marriage ceremonies. The next epoch-making 

 work was Mr. Lewis H. Morgan s &quot; Systems of 

 Consanguinity and Affinity of the Human Fam 

 ily,&quot; which appeared in 1871 in the &quot; Smithso 

 nian Contributions to Knowledge &quot; (vol. xvii.), 

 and was afterward reproduced in a condensed 

 and more readily available shape in &quot; Ancient 

 Society &quot; (pt., iii., pp. 383-521). It is an attempt 

 to trace the growth of the family by a compara 

 tive study of the methods of reckoning relation 

 ship. These investigations into the early history 

 of the family are in themselves so valuable, and 

 in reputation so classic, that we cannot do better 

 than set out with them. They give us facts and 

 theories together ; but it will not be hard to sep 

 arate these and form an independent judgment 

 on the amount of support the facts give to the 

 theories. 



McLennan starts with the existence and preva 

 lence of the form of capture in marriage cere 

 monies. It must .be a survival, he thinks, of a 

 system of actual wife-stealing. If the members 

 of a tribe were allowed to marry within the 

 tribe that is, in the felicitous mintage of Mc- 

 14 





