58 From Savagery to Civilization 



marriage within the tribe or community. Endo- 

 gamy was probably a very early custom, but is 

 now found only among very low races, and those 

 protected by their locations. Exogamy is widely 

 prevalent among surviving tribes, and those which 

 appear to be advancing. We may therefore as- 

 7 sume that there is something about exogamy 

 1 which makes it more advantageous than endo- 

 gamy. The most common explanation of this 

 advantage is that it prevents in-breeding, a prac- 

 tice which is said to be injurious. The practice 

 of exogamy is supposed to be the forerunner of 

 our customs and laws which prohibit the mar- 

 riage of close relatives. 



There is another reason why exogamy is more 

 advantageous to a savage tribe that endogamy. 

 When the wife is to be had within the tribe, she 

 is convenient, and any ten-year-old boy can get 

 one when he wants her without the least trouble 

 or effort. When the wife must be "captured" 

 from some other tribe the case is different She 

 is not so convenient and cannot be had so soon. 

 Furthermore, he is put to considerable trouble 

 to get her, and has to do a good deal of extra 

 work and planning before he accomplishes that 



