CH. XI CUSTOMS OF THE MINAHASSEBS 285 



arose at a time when the man followed his wife and 

 lived in her house, as he does at the present in the neigh- 

 bouring Sangir islands, and in the kingdom of Bolang Mon- 

 gondu. 



These facts, and many others which could be produced, 

 prove then not only that patriarchy was not the original 

 system in Celebes, but that matriarchy was ; yet there still 

 remains considerable doubt as to the way in which the 

 change was brought about, and what the intermediate stages 

 were. 



In order to throw some light upon these doubtful points, 

 we must consider some of the well-marked types of mar- 

 riage systems which are found in other parts of the archi- 

 pelago. 



First, let us consider a prominent characteristic of what 

 may be called strict matriarchy. Such a system is found 

 amongst the Malays of the Padang highlands in Sumatra. 

 Each district {negari) is divided into a number of villages 

 (koto), and each village contains a number of family clans 

 (sulcus), each of which lives in a single large house called 

 the kumpulan rwmah. In most districts there is a very 

 strict law of exogamy, it being considered Uttle short of 

 incestuous for a man to marry a member of his own sukii 

 or family clan. Upon marriage the man leaves his own 

 clan and goes to hve in the kumpulan rumah of his wife's 

 clan, which after a time recognises him as a member. 

 Any titles and property he possesses do not descend to 

 his own children but to the kamanakan, i.e. his sister's 

 children, and on the death of his wife he inherits none of 

 her property, nor is he allowed to exercise any control over 

 his own children (95). 



Let us turn now to a case of strict patriarchy with 

 exogamy. Such a system is found amongst the Bataks. 

 Here we find that the children belong not to the mother's 



