H HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



warriors {pi. 5, fig. 2). The children went naked, and were bathed in 

 cold water by their mothers ; men, women, boys, and girls, constantly 

 invigorated themselves by bathing in the rivers. 



The prevailing characteristics were patriotism, truth, chastity, courage, 

 hospitality, and love of order and discipline. Marriage with them was a 

 sacred institution, and virtue and modesty were, above all things, expected 

 of every bride. The youth who loved a maiden offered her his hand for 

 lawful alliance, and the parents blessed the union. The parties then 

 exchanged presents ; the bride offered the bridegroom various pieces of 

 armor, and he in turn presented her with oxen and cows, a bridled horse, 

 shield, lance, and sword. PL 5, fig. 3, ceremony of a German wedding. 



In time of peace the Germans abandoned themselves to idleness or play ; 

 sometimes they indulged in the excitement of the chase. The free Germans 

 disdained agricultural labor ; they left the care of husbandry to menials, and 

 the domestic concerns to the women. They lived chiefly on the flesh of 

 wild and domestic animals, fruits, milk, &c. They made beer from barley, 

 mead of wild honey and water, and only on the Rhine was wine drunk. 

 They wore no ornaments except their arms. Arrayed in these they even 

 appeared at their banquets, of which all w^ere very fond, and which 

 frequently degenerated into revels. 



Their dress, like their dwellings, was simple and unadorned. The men 

 wore a mantle manufactured from bast or the skin of wild beasts. The 

 women dressed in a garment gaudily colored, without sleeves, and fastened 

 by a girdle. Their long, beautiful hair flowed loosely over their shoulders. 



Architectural taste seems to have been little known among the 

 Germans. They generally lived in huts, constructed of rude logs and 

 mud, and covered with thatch ; not a few would seek shelter merely in 

 caves, especially in winter. PL 5, fig. 1, a German family in their 

 dwelling. 



Four great classes marked their social arrangements. 1. The superior, 

 wealthy aristocracy. These held great property, controlled the legislation, 

 and furnished the leaders in battle. 2. The common freemen, enjoying 

 less respect and influence than the former, and limited as to their property 

 in goods and slaves. Though of inferior position, they constituted a 

 powerful body. 3. The tenants (Clientes, Lassi), who received from the 

 proprietors of the soil a small tract for cultivation, and paid for it in corn, 

 cattle, and cloth. 4. Slaves. These were bought and' sold at pleasure, and 

 labored only for the profit of their owners, who possessed over them the 

 power of life and death. On the whole, however, the German slaves were 

 not so cruelly treated as those of the Greeks and Romans. 



The superiors formed commonwealths, several of which were grouped 

 in a district, several districts making a county, which was ruled by a count. 

 In time of war several united counties elected a duke. Only a few tribes 

 were governed by kings. The German warriors usually fought on foot, 

 horsemen only being found where horses were bred. PL 4, fig. 18, a 

 German war leader (duke) ; fig. 19, a warrior. 



Religious ideas consisted mainly in the worship of nature. However, 

 186 



