BOLL. 30] 



MARRIAGE 



809 



wife with garments, and the marriage is? 

 consummated. Frequently there are child 

 betrothals, but these are not considered 

 binding. Monogamy is prevalent, as the 

 suj^port of several wives is possible only 

 for the expert hunter. Divorce is as in- 

 formal as marriage; either party may 

 leave the other on the slightest jiretext, 

 and may remarry. The husband may 

 discard a shrewish or miserly wife, and 

 the wife may abandon her husban<l if he 

 maltreats her or fails to provide enough 

 food. In such cases the children generally 

 remain with the mother. 



On the N. W. coast marriage between 

 members of the same clan is strictly for- 

 bidden. The negotiations are usually 

 carried on by the parents. The Kwakiutl 

 purchases with his wife the rank and 

 privileges of her family, to ])e surrendered 

 later by her father to the children with 

 interest, depending on the number of off- 

 spring. When the debt is paid the father 

 has redeemed his daughter, and the 

 marriage is annulled unless the husband 

 renews his payment. Among the other 

 tribes of the group an actual sale of the 

 girl is rare. The Tlingit, Tsimshian, 

 coast Salish, and Bellacoola send gifts to 

 the girl's parents; but presents of nearly 

 equal or even superior value are returned. 

 Monogamy predominates. In case of sep- 

 aration Salish parents divide their chil- 

 dren according to special agreement. 

 Among the Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, 

 and Heiltsuk the children always belong 

 to the mother. If a husband expels his 

 wife from caprice he must return her 

 dowry; if she has been unfaithful he 

 keeps the dowry and may demand his 

 wedding gifts. 



On the lower Pacific coast the clan 

 system disappears. The regulations of 

 the Indians of California vary consider- 

 ably. Some tribes have real purchase 

 of women; others ratify the marriage 

 merely by an exchange of gifts. Polyg- 

 amy is rare. Divorce is easily accom- 

 plished at the husband's wish, and where 

 wives are bought the purchase money is 

 refunded. Among the Hui)a the husband 

 can claim only half of his payment if he 

 keeps the children. Wintun men seldom 

 expel their wives, but slink away from 

 home, leaving their families behind. 



The Puel)los, representing a much 

 higher stage of culture, show very differ- 

 ent marriage conditions. The clan organ- 

 ization is developed, there is no purchase, 

 and the marriage is arranged by the par- 

 ents or independently by the young cou- 

 ple. The Zufii lover, after bringing ac- 

 ceptable gifts, is adopted as a son by the 

 father of his i)etrothed, and married life 

 begins in her home. Slie is thus mistress 

 of the situation ; the children are hers, and 

 she can order the husband from the house 

 should occasion arise. 



Of the Plains Indians some had the 

 gentile system, while others lacked it com- 

 pletely. They seem to have practised 

 polygamy more commonly, the younger 

 sisters of a first wife being potential wives 

 of the husband. Among the Pawnee and 

 the Siksika the essential feature of the 

 marriage ceremony was the presentation 

 of gifts to the girl's parents. In case of 

 elopement the subsequent presentation 

 of gifts legitimized the marriage and re- 

 moved the disgrace which would other- 

 wise attach to the girl and her family 

 (Grinnell) . The men had ab.solute power 

 over their wives, and sejmration and 

 divorce were common. The Hidatsa, 

 Kiowa, and Omaha had no purchase. The 

 women had a higher social position, and 

 the wishes of the girls were C(jnsulted. 

 Wives could leave cruel husbands. Each 

 consort could remarry and the children 

 were left in the custody of their mother 

 or their paternal grandmother. Separa- 

 tion was never accompanied l)y any 

 ceremony. 



East of the Mississippi the clan and gen- 

 tile systems were most highly developed. 

 The rules against marriage within the clan 

 or gens were strictly enforced. Descent of 

 name and property was in the female line 

 among the Iroquoian, Muskhogean, and 

 s. E. Algoncjnian tribes, but in the male 

 line among the Algonquians of the n. 

 and w. Among some tribes, such as the 

 Creeks, female descent did not prevent 

 the subjection of women. As a rule, 

 however, women had clearly defined 

 rights. Gifts took the place of purchase. 

 Courtship was practically alike in all the 

 Atlantic tribes of the Algonquian stock; 

 though the young men sometimes man- 

 aged the matter themselves, the parents 

 generally arranged the match. A Dela- 

 ware mother would bring some game 

 killed l:)y her son to the girl's relatives 

 and receive an appropriate gift in return. 

 If the marriage was agreed upon, presents 

 of this kind were continued for a long 

 time. A Delaware husband could put 

 away his wife at pleasure, especially if she 

 had no children, and a woman could leave 

 her husband. The Hurons and the Iro- 

 quois had a perfect matriarchate, which 

 limited freedom of choice. Proposals 

 made to the girl's mother were submitted 

 by her to the women's count'il, whose 

 decision was final among the Hurons. 

 Iroquois unions were arranged by the 

 mothers without the consent or knowledge 

 of the couple. Polygamy was permissi- 

 ble for a Huron, but forbidden to the 

 Iroquois. Divorce was discreditable, but 

 could easily be effected. The children 

 went with the mother. 



Monogamy is thus found to be the 

 prevalent form (if marriage throughout 

 the continent. The economic factor is 

 everywhere potent, but an actual pur- 



