366 
SEXUAL SELECTIOX: MAN. 
Part II. 
or more men are compelled to marry one woman, it is 
certain that all the women of the tribe will get married, 
and there will be no selection by the men of the more 
attractive women. But under these circumstances the 
women no doubt will have the power of choice, and 
will prefer the more attractive men. Azara, for in- 
stance, describes how carefully a Guana woman bargains 
for all sorts of privileges, before accepting some one 
or more husbands ; and the men in consequence take 
unusual care of their personal appearance.^^ The very 
ugly men would perhaps altogether fail in getting a 
wife, or get one later in life, but the handsomer men, 
although the most successful in obtaining wives, would 
not, as far as we can see, leave more offspring to inherit 
their beauty than the less handsome husbands of the 
same women, 
Earltj Betrothals and Slavery of Women, — With 
many savages it is the custom to betroth the females 
whilst mere infants ; and this would effectually prevent 
preference being exerted on either side according to 
personal appearance. But it would not prevent the 
more attractive women from being afterwards stolen 
or taken by force from their husbands by the more 
powerful men ; and this often happens in Australia, 
America, and other parts of the world. The same con- 
sequences with reference to sexual selection would to a 
certain extent follow when women are valued almost 
exclusively as slaves or beasts of burden, as is the case 
with most savages. The men, however, at all times 
would prefer the handsomest slaves according to their 
standard of beauty. 
"We thus see that several customs prevail with savages 
‘Voyages,’ &c. tom. ii. p. 92-95. 
