CONTENTS OF CHAPTER VI THE MOTHER-AGE CIVILISATION I.-Progress from Lower to Higher Forms of the Family Relationship Primitive human love-The same domination of sex-needs in man as among the animals-Different conditions of expression-Acquisition of a new element-The individuation of love-Sex uninterruptedly interesting-The human need for sexual variety―The personal end of passion-Primitive sex-customs and forms of marriage -Superabundance of evidence-An attempt to group the periods to be considered-An early period in which man developed from his ape-like ancestors-Illustrations from primitive savages-First formation of tribal groups-Second period-Mother-descent and mother-rights-The position of women-The importance of this early matriarchate-The transitional period from mother-right to father-right-The assertion of the male force in the person of the woman's brother-This alien position of the husband and father— The formation of the patriarchal family-The change a gradual one and dependent upon property-Civilisation started with the woman as the dominant partner-Traces of mother-descent found in all parts of the world-Evidence of folk-lore as legends-Examples of mother-descent in the early history of England, Scotland, and Ireland-The freedom enjoyed by women-Survival of motherright customs among the ancient Hebrews. II.-The Matriarchal Family in America Traces of mother-descent frequent in the American continent-Motherrule still in force in some districts-Morgan's description of the system among the Iroquois-The customs of Iroquois tribes— Communal dwellings-The authority of the women-The creeping in of changes leading to father-right-The system of government among the Wyandots-Further examples of the sexual relationships-The interesting customs of the Seri tribe-The probation of the bridegroom-His service to the bride's family-Stringent character of the conditions imposed-The freedom granted to the bride-A decisive example of the position of power held by womenThe Pueblos-The customs of these tribes-Monogamic marriage— The happy family relationship-This the result of the supremacy of the wife in the home-Conclusions to be drawn from these examples of mother-rights among the Aboriginal tribes of America— Women the dominant force in this stage of civilisation-Why this early power of women has been denied-A meeting with a native Iroquois He testifies to the high status and power of the Indian women. III. Further Examples of the Matriarchal Family in Australia, India and other Countries The question of the position of women during the mother-age a disputed one-Bachofen's opinion-An early period of gynæocracy-This view not accepted-Need for unprejudiced opinion-Women the first owners of property-Their power dependent on thisFurther examples of mother-right customs-The maternal family in Australia-Communal marriage-Mother-right in India-The influence of Brahmanism-Traces of the maternal family-Some interesting marriage customs - Polyandry-Examples of its practice Great polyandrous centres-The freedom enjoyed by women-The causes of polyandry-Matriarchal polyandry-The interesting custom of the Nayars-The Malays of Sumatra-The ambel-anak marriage-Letter from a private correspondent—It proves the high status of women under the early customs of motherdescent-Traces of the maternal family among the Arabs-The custom of beena marriage-Position of women in the Mariana Islands-Rebellion of the husbands-Use of religious symbolismThe slave-wife-Her consecration to the Bossum or god in Guinea. IV.-The Transition to Father-right The position of women in Burma-The code of Manu-Women's activity in trade-Conditions of free-divorce-Traces of mother-descent in Japan-In China-In Madagascar-The power of royal princesses— Tyrannical authority of the princesses of Loango-In Africa descent through women the rule-Illustrations-The transition to fatherright-The power passing from the mother into the hand of the maternal uncle-Proofs from the customs of the African tribesThe rise of father-right-Reasons which led to the change-Marriage by capture and marriage by purchase-The payment of a brideprice-Marriage with a slave-wife-The conflict between the old and the new system-Illustration by the curious marriage customs of the Hassanyeh Arabs of the White Nile-Father-right dependent on economic considerations-Résumé-General conclusions to be drawn from the mother-age-Its relation to the present revolt of women-The bright side of father-right. CHAPTER VI THE MOTHER-AGE CIVILISATION I.-Progress from Lower to Higher Forms of the Family Relationship "The reader who grasps that a thousand years is but a small period in the evolution of man, and yet realises how diverse were morality and customs in matters of sex in the period which this essay treats of, (i. e. Mother-Age Civilisation), "will hardly approach modern social problems with the notion that there is a rigid and unchangeable code of right and wrong. He will mark, in the first place, a continuous flux in all social institutions and moral standards; but in the next place, if he be a real historical student, he will appreciate the slowness of this steady secular change; he will perceive how almost insensible it is in the lifetime of individuals, and although he may work for social reforms, he will refrain from constructing social Utopias."-Professor KARL PEARSON. OUR study of the sexual associations among animals has brought us to understand how large a part the gratification of the sex-instincts plays in animal life, equalling and, indeed, overmastering and directing the hunger instinct for food. If we now turn to man we find the same domination of sex-needs, but under different conditions of expression. Man not only loves, but he knows that he loves; a new factor is added, and sex itself is lifted to a plane of clear self-consciousness. 1 It is abundantly evident to any one who looks carefully into the past that sex occupied a large share of the consciousness of primitive races. The elaborate courtship rites and sex festivals alone give proof of this. It is, unfortunately, impossible for me to follow this question and give examples. I must refer the reader to H. Ellis's Psychology of Sex, Vol. III. pp. 34-44, where a number of typical cases are given of the courtship customs of the primitive peoples. See also Thomas, Sex and Society, chapter on "The Psychology of Exogamy," pp. 175–179. |