a 
MORGAN.) IN MEXICO MALES INHERITED. Se) 
northern Indians a large cluster participated.’ In conformity with the or- 
ganization of society based upon kin, when in the first stage of its devel- 
opment, the kindred group inherited, and the common ancestor of this kin 
being considered a female, it follows that if a man died, not his children, 
still less his wife, but his mother’s descendants, that is, his brothers, sisters, 
in fact the entire consanguine relationship from which he derived on his 
mother’s side, were his heirs.” Such may have been the case even among 
the Muysca of New Granada.’ It was different, however, in Mexico, where 
e meet with traces of a decided progress. Not only Maal descent been 
changed to the male line,* but heirship was limited, to the exclusion of the 
kin and of the agnates themselves, to the children of the male sex.2 What- 
ever personal effects a father left, which were not offered up in sacrifice at 
the ceremonies of his funeral," they were distributed among his male off- 
ellos lo que e! les eee Clavigero (Lib. VII, cap. XIII): ‘* In Mexico, and “aoa the entire realm, 
the royal family excepted as already told, the sons sueceeded to the father’s rights; and if there were 
no sons, then the brothers, and the brothers’ sons inherited.’”’? Bustamante (‘‘'Tezcoco,” ete., p. 219): 
In all these cases, Bustamante only speaks of chiefs; but the quotations from Motolinia and Gomara 
direetly apply to the people in general. 
‘Mr. L. H. Morgan has investigated the customs of inheritance, not only among the northern 
Indians, but also among the pueblo Indians of New Mexico. He establishes the fact, that the “kin- 
ship” or “gens,” which we may justly consider as the unit of organization in American aboriginal 
society, participated in the property of the deceased. He proves it among the Iroquois (‘‘Ancient So- 
ciety,” Part II, cap. Il, pp. 75 and 76). Wyandottes, Id., cap. VII, p. 153. Missouri-tribes, p. 155. 
Winnebagoes, p. 157. Mandans, p. 158. Minnitarees, p. 159. Creeks, p. 161. Choctas, p. 162. Chick- 
asas, p. 163. Ojibwas, p. 167; also Potowattomies and Crees, Miamis, p. 168. Shawnees, p. 169. 
Sauks, Foxes, and Menominies, p. 170. Delawares, p. 172. Munsees and Mohegans, p. 173. Finally, 
the pueblo Indians of New Mexico are shown to have, if not the identical at least a similar mode of 
inheritance. It would be easy to secure further evidence, from South America also. 
2“Ancient Society” (Part II, cap. Il, p. 75; Part 1V, cap. I, pp. 528, 530, 531, 536, and 537). 
3Gomara (‘‘Historia de las Indios,” Vedia I, p. 201). Garcia (“Origen de los Indios,” Lib. LV, 
cap. 23, p. 247). Piedrahita (Parte 1, Lib. I, cap. 5, p. 27). Joaquin Acosta (‘‘Compendio historico del 
Desecumbrimiento y Colonisazion de la Nueya-Granada,” Cap. XT, p. 201). Ternanx-Compans (“L’ancien 
Cundinamarca,” pp. 21 and 38). 
4Motolinia (Trat. II, cap. V, p. 120). Gomara (p. 434). Clavigero (Lib. VII, cap. XIII). Zurita 
(pp. 12 and 43). 
5 Letter of Motolinia and Diego d’Olarte, to Don Luis de Velasco, Cholula, 27 Ang., 1554 GrBe: 
cueil,” ete., etc., p. 407): “The daughters did not inherit; it was the principal, wife’s son 
Besides, nearly every author designates but a son, or sons, as the heirs. There is no mention GTO of 
daughters at all. In Tlaxcallan, it is also expressly mentioned that the daughters did not inherit (Tor- 
quemada, Lib. XI, cap. XXII, p. 348). In general, the position of woman in ancient Mexico was a very 
inferior one, and but little above that which it occupies among Indians in general. (Compare the 
description of Gomara, p. 440, Vedia I, with those of Sahagun. Lib. X, cap. I, p. 1; cap. XII, pp. 
30, 31, 32, and 33. The fact is generally conceded). H. H. Bancroft, ‘Native Races,” Vol. II, cap. 
VI, p. 224, ete. 
6 Motolinia (Trat. II, cap. V, p. 120). Torquemada (Lib. XIII, cap. XLIT to XLVI, pp. 515 to 
529). Acosta (Lib. V, cap. VIII, pp. 320, 321, and 322). Gomara (pp. 436 and 437, Vedia, I). Mendicta 
(Lib. I, cap. XL, pp. 162 and 163). Claviger » (Lib. VI, tap: XXXIX). ‘They burnt the clothes, ar- 
rows, and a portion of the household utensils 5 
