6o FIELD AND HEDGEROW. 



knows exactly where the list ends. This is nothing 

 uncommon. Though clans and tribes no longer settle 

 under their respective chiefs in villages, the families of 

 the same name and blood still present a very close re- 

 presentation of the clan system. They have all the 

 tribal relationship without any of its feeling. Instead 

 of forming a strong body and helping each other, these 

 people seemed to detest one another, and to lose no 

 opportunity of snatching some little advantage or 

 telling some scandalous tale. In fact, this in-and-in 

 breeding seems one of the curses of village life, and a 

 cause of stagnation and narrowness of mind. This 

 marrying and giving in marriage is not singular to well- 

 to-do leaders of chapel society, but goes on with equal 

 fervour among the lower members. The cottage girls 

 and cottage boys marry the instant they get a chance, 

 and it is not at all uncommon to find comparatively 

 young labourers who have had two wives. There is 

 nothing in this to reproach : it is a peculiarity of the 

 cast of mind which I am endeavouring to describe a 

 cast of mind perhaps not much marked by sentimen- 

 tality. Something in this practice reminds one of the 

 Mormons. Certainly the wives are not taken together, 

 but they are sealed as fast as circumstances permit. 

 Something in it has a Mormonite aspect to an observer, 

 and perhaps the existence of this cast of mind may assist 

 in explaining the inexplicable growth of that strange 

 religion. Doubtless they would repudiate the suggestion 

 with loud outcries and indignation, for people are always 

 most vigorous in denouncing themselves unconsciously. 

 These numerous wives (who arc quite willing), the marry- 

 ing of sisters, the primitive gatherings at the chapel, so 

 like the religious camps of the Far West, the general 

 relationship, have a distinct flavour of Salt Lake. Add 



