RISE OF FATHERRIGHT 81 



protecting companion; and throughout this'probationary 

 term he is compelled to maintain continence i.e., he 

 must display the most indubitable proof of moral force. 

 During this period the always dignified position 

 occupied by the daughter of the family culminates ; 

 she is the observed of all observers, the subject of 

 gossip among matrons and warriors alike, the recipient 

 of frequent tokens from designing sisters with an eye 

 to shares of her spouse's spoils, and the receiver of 

 material supplies measuring the competence of the 

 would-be husband. Through his energy she is enabled 

 to dispense largess with lavish hand, and thus to 

 dignify her clan and honour her spouse in the most 

 effective way known to primitive life ; and at the same 

 time she enjoys the immeasurable moral stimulus of 

 realising that she is the arbiter of the fate of a man 

 who becomes warrior or outcast at her bidding, and 

 through him of the future of two clans i.e., she is 

 raised to a responsibility in both personal and tribal 

 affairs which, albeit temporary, is hardly lower than 

 that of the warrior-chief. In tribal theory the moral 

 test measures the character of the man ; in very fact 

 it at the same time both measures and makes the 

 character of the woman. Among other privileges 

 bestowed on the bride during the probationary period 

 are those of receiving the most intimate attentions 

 from the clan-fellows of the groom ; and these are 

 noteworthy as suggestions of a vestigial polyandry or 

 adelphogamy [?]. At the close of the year the probation 

 ends in a feast provided by the probationer, who 

 thereupon enters the bride's jacal as a perpetual guest 

 of unlimited personal privileges (subject to tribal 

 custom) ; while the bride passes from a half-wanton 



