168 BUREAU OF AMEEICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 63 



As to how far marital fidelity is actually observed among the 

 Yahgans, the testimonies differ. Some writers report infidelity as 

 very common (Martial, 199; Th. Bridges, a, Fr. tr., 173, an early 

 paper), others as not so common or even as rare (Th. Bridges, Ic, 234, 

 a later paper; Dabbene, h, 189; Spegazzini, a, 10; Mission Terre de 

 Feu, 311). The truth perhaps lies between the two extremes. 



That the Yahgan men are jealous of their wives is attested by all 

 credible observers (cf., e. g., Hyades, q, 239; Snow, a, vol. i, 338-339; 

 WeddeU, 184; Wilkes, a, vol. i, 130, 1845 ed., i, 125; h, 52). Wives 

 are never loaned or sold (Hyades, p, 332; q, 239) ; Dr. Hyades' proofs 

 of this appear to be sufficient. 



C. Onas. — Breaches of marital fidelity occur among the Onas, but 



apparently not with marked frequency; the offended husband is more 



apt to wreak vengeance on his wife's lover than on her (C. Gallardo, 



220). 



Position of Woman 



Constructively and in theory the woman among the three Fuegian 

 tribes is supposed to be absolutely subject to the man; he is emphati- 

 cally the head of the family (cf., e. g., Skottsberg, d, 596; Martial, 196; 

 Hyades, jp, 332; C. Gallardo, 224). 



A. Yahgans. — ^Actually, the man's authority is rather weak (Martial, 

 196); the woman is not entirely dependent on the husband and has 

 considerable liberty (Th. Bridges, Ti., 210; e, 332). Not a few men are 

 entirely dominated by their wives (Th. Bridges, 7i, 210; Spegazzini, a, 

 15, "predominio tan grande de las mujeres"), and a man's wives 

 sometimes form a coalition to enforce their will upon him (Bove, a, 

 793; &, 136; c, 128; d, Arch., 292). A woman who conducts herself 

 well is respected and independent (Hyades, p, 332). 



Brutality, where indulged in by the man, may be occasioned by 

 jealousy (Hyades, q, 239), but, on the other hand, the wife herself is 

 not so tender at times with her sinning spouse (Spegazzini, a, 10). 

 A cruel husband gets into trouble with his wife's relatives (Th. 

 Bridges, I, Jan. 1, 1875, 10). Husbands have real affection for their 

 wives (WeddeU, 156), but are chary of showing it, especially in the 

 presence of strangers. 



This studied repression of the emotions probably accounts in part 

 for Capt. Bove's characterization of the Yahgan woman as her hus- 

 band's slave and drudge (a, 792; &, 136; c, 127; d, Arch., 291). As 

 for her being a drudge, see following section on Division of Labor. 

 That she is supposed to obey her husband implicitly is emphatically 

 the Yahgan theory, but that' she is respected, well treated, and well 

 provided for in the main and actually fairly independent, seems clear 

 from the accumulated testimonies summarized in the preceding 

 paragraphs. 



