MARITAL JEALOUSY 181 



one, sleep secretly with your brothers' wives." This 

 legend is not isolated : we are told it agrees with other 

 current sayings and legends. The Yakuts are patri- 

 lineal ; but there are not obscure indications that in 

 former times descent was reckoned through the mother. 

 The wife resides at the husband's home, and special 

 rules exist for the avoidance of his male but not of 

 his female relatives. These rules seem to point to 

 precautions against the exercise of claims by men 

 upon the wives of their kinsmen. The old customs, 

 however, are breaking down under the pressure of 

 Russian civilisation, such as it is. 1 



The Chukchi of Eastern Siberia offer to guests, 

 whether of their own race or not, their wives and 

 daughters and are said to resent as a deadly affront 

 any refusal. It was related of them and the Maritime 

 Koryaks of the Gulf of Penjinsk in the earlier half of 

 the last century that they " begged of the Russian 

 post-carrier in his annual journey through their 

 country to lie with their wives, and overwhelmed him 

 on his return with presents because a son had been 

 born to them from this transient alliance." 2 The 

 Chukchi in particular are stated to compel their wives, 

 when they want a son, to allow themselves to be im- 

 pregnated by another man. 3 We may doubt whether 

 much compulsion is usually required. Compound 

 marriage or " marriage by interchange " is an 



1 /. A. L xxxi. 96, 84, 88, 86, 93. The argument from 

 terminology of family relationships is also worth considering ; but it 

 does not come within my general plan. As to the time spent by 

 young wives with their parents see supra p. 15. 



2 Erman, ii. 530 ; Georgi, 98. 



3 Post, Geschlechtsgen. 33, citing Klemm ; Georgi, 104; Jesup 

 Exped. vii. 318. 



