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BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[Boll. 196 



ally) of the Government and the general influence of non-Indian cul- 

 ture has diminished a little the incidence of polygyny during the past 

 20 years. However, in 1950, nine men were still living with two 

 wives. Over the 80-year period, polygyny has surely contributed to 

 the fertility of this population. 



Finally, it may be presumed that the strong tendency for Ramah 

 Navahos to mate during their lifetime with two or more different 

 individuals affects fertility, since impediments to conception or live 

 birth in one marriage may disappear with a change of partners. 

 Table 5 gives the figures by marriages and by "affairs." It is neces- 

 sary to include the latter category because of the existence of unions 

 of longer or shorter duration which the Navaho, speaking in their 

 own language, refuse to term a "marriage" but which are more or 

 less publicly recognized as such. Entered in the tabulation are only 

 those instances where either publicly acknowledged children resulted 

 or where the association went on steadily for at least a few months. 

 Cases in which gossip reports or an individual in question admitted 

 to intercourse on one or a few occasions are not included. In a few 

 instances, informants disagreed as to whether a union did or did not 

 constitute a "marriage." I have tabulated as "marriages" only those 

 cases where all or a vast majority of informants agreed on this judg- 

 ment. For purposes of human biology, it makes no difference, of 

 course. But for purposes of social organization, there is a significant 

 distinction. 



Table 5. — Marriages and "affairs^' by age group and sex 



' As of 1950 or at time of death. 



• Subtotals for married Individuals only: 120 male; 110 female. 



The average nimiber of marriages for men and women (who married 

 at all) in three age groups is informative (table 6). These figures 

 would be somewhat increased if one added the affairs. Again, how- 

 ever, an underestimation both for marriages and affairs must be 

 presumed. Some of short duration were undoubtedly forgotten or 



