RISE OF FATHERRIGHT 69 



to his." * The last detail is noteworthy : children not 

 yet enfranchised from infancy remain to the maternal 

 clan. 



The Cherokee bridegroom went to live with his 

 bride. The house belonged to her or her mother, 

 and if dissatisfied with him they could drive him away. 2 

 The Seminoles of Florida reckon descent through the 

 mother. Marriage within the clan is prohibited. The 

 consent of the girl and her kindred is required. When 

 that is given the female relatives of the bridegroom 

 contribute the simple bedding required by the 

 young pair, and he receives in return a wedding 

 costume consisting of a newly made shirt. Clad in 

 this he goes at sunset of the appointed day to his 

 mother-in-law's home, where he is received by the 

 bride and henceforth is her husband. He dwells 

 there until he and his bride set up an independent home, 

 either at the wife's camp or elsewhere except (and this is 

 important) among the husband's relatives. Divorce 

 is easy. " The husband, no longer satisfied with his 

 wife, leaves her ; she returns to her family and the 

 matter is ended. ... In fact, marriage among these 

 Indians seems to be but the natural mating of the 

 sexes, to cease at the option of either of the interested 

 parties." The writer from whom I quote adds : 

 " Although I do not know that the wife may lawfully 

 desert her husband, as well as the husband his wife, 



1 Owen, F. L. Musq. 72. The detailed account of the negotia- 

 tions and courtship is most entertaining, but too long to quote. 



2 This is clear from the tales, Rep. Bur. Ethn. xix. 292, 338, 339, 

 345. As to the Natchez, see Charlevoix, vi. 182, 184. He does 

 not expressly say, but I think it is to be inferred, that the husbands 

 usually went to reside in their wives' dwellings. They were 

 matrilineal, 



