RISE OF FATHERRIGHT 67 



The Senecas, an Iroquoian tribe, dwelt in long- 

 houses which accommodated sometimes as many as 

 twenty families, each in its own apartment. " As 

 to their family system," writes a missionary, " when 

 occupying the old long-houses it is probable that some 

 one clan predominated, the women taking in husbands, 

 however, from the other clans : and sometimes for 

 a novelty some of the sons bringing in their young 

 wives until they felt brave enough to leave their 

 mothers. Usually the female portion ruled the house, 

 and were doubtless clannish enough about it. The 

 stores were in common ; but woe to the luckless 

 husband or lover who was too shiftless to do his 

 share of the providing. No matter how many chil- 

 dren, or whatever goods he might have in the house, 

 he might at any time be ordered to pick up his 

 blanket and budge ; and after such orders it would 

 not be healthful for him to attempt to disobey ; the 

 house would be too hot for him ; and unless saved by 

 the intercession of some aunt or grandmother, he 

 must retreat to his own clan, or as was often done, go 

 and start a new matrimonial alliance in some other. " l 

 The Wyandots, another Iroquoian tribe, camp in 

 the form of a horse-shoe, every clan together in a 

 regular order. Marriage between members of the 

 same clan is forbidden, and children belong to the 

 clan of the mother. " Husbands," we are told, "re- 

 tain all their rights and privileges in their own gentes, 

 though they live with \hegentes of their wives." On 

 betrothal the bridegroom makes presents to the bride's 

 mother. After marriage the pair live for a short 

 time at least with the bride's mother in her household, 



1 Morgan, Contrib. N. Am. Ethn. iv. 65. 



