PREFACE.

IT has been my aim in this work to ascertain the nature
of the primitive family, and to point out the ideas on
which it is based, as well as the germ of moral growth
which it contains. The family, however, exists within
a larger community, by which it is influenced, so that
such a task impels us at every turn to exceed its narrow
limits. The difficulty of resisting this impulse is in-
creased by the fact that it has been necessary to give
a mainly critical character to this work. The theories
previously set forth, to which we are opposed, have,
generally speaking, neither admitted nor defined the
border-line between the clan and the family, so that we
were compelled to adapt our criticism to these theories.
Since, however, we had no desire to increase the size of
our work, and the number of the problems on which it
touches, beyond measure, we decided only to enter into
these questions so far as criticism demands, and to
restrict ourselves within narrower limits whenever it
was possible. Hence there may be a certain want of
proportion in the course taken in these inquiries, and we
ask our readers' forgiveness, wherever this is the case.
C. N. STARCKE.

COPENHAGEN,
January, 1888.

The comparative method-The materials for inquiry-The hypotheses of evolution and degradation-Question of uniformity of primitive state-Anthropology and philology-Plan of inquiry -Border-line between institutions originally fluctuatingGroups of kinship-The primitive tie of blood

SECTION I.

DEFINITION OF KINSHIP.

One-sided definition of kinship—À priori and empirical interpreta

PAGE

1

Hordes and clans-Isolated and mixed groups-Kobong groupPossession and inheritance of land-The groups seek to effect local isolation-Small groups more permanent than large onesAustralian prohibitions of marriage-One-sided definition of the clan, which is concerned with the latter, not with the familyThe female line does not imply promiscuous intercourse-The male line the more primitive-Origin of female line .......

CHAPTER II.

AMERICA.

20

Exogenous totem-groups-General diffusion of female line-As to the primitive existence of the clan-The tamanuus of the peoples of Columbia-Tylor, Lubbock, and Spencer-Medicine

and totem-System of names in clan-The Columbians the

primitive tribes-Position of husband with respect to members

of wife's family-Effect of this position on line of kinship-

Influence of locality and household-Caribs-Non-existence of

clans among them, and vague definition of kinship-Labour

performed by son-in-law-Paternal authority and household

among Brazilians-Tattooing a bond of union-Likewise a dis-

tinctive mark-Obligation of blood-feud-Slaves and freemen

-Undeveloped clans-Forbidden marriages-Tribes of La

Plata No patria potestas-Hereditary dignity of chief-Arau-

canians-Coherence of the family-Female line not primitive-

Origin of duties and privileges-Germ of development of

groups-Nomenclature-Mexico-Paternal line and localized

clans-The same in Peru-The couvade-Lubbock's hypothesis

-Diffusion and meaning of the couvade

CHAPTER III.

AFRICA.

...

The regulating forces universally simple-The female line a sign of

the formation of more permanent groups-Scattered groups:

slave-hunts-Conquest of Africa--Twofold line of descent-

Bechuana clans-Patriarchal life--The kotla-Bantu and

Negro villages-Their government-The village and the family

-Women's prominent position-Bachofen and Giraud-Teulon—

The wife and her family-Negroes-Female line-Description

of West African community--Government of tribe and clan-

Bechuanas the primitive type-Hottentots

CHAPTER IV.

ASIA.

...

53

Malayan Gezin—Semando and Djudur-Indian aborigines—Service

and migration of bridegroom-Kasias-Process of development

-Promiscuous intercourse of Nairs-Nair development-Lim-

boos and Lepchas-Western Asia

...

CHAPTER V.

POLYNESIA.

Polynesian classes-Marriage and rank-Fijian Vasu

CHAPTER VI.

ARYAN PEOPLES.

...

Maine and McLennan-Patriarchal family group-Joint family
group-Economic interests-Property in land and cattle-Com

parison between Hindus and Bechuanas-Primitive character
of agnation-Hindu female line-Sapinda and Samanodoka-
Agnates and cognates-Germanic female line-Marriage and
guardianship-Physical relation between mother and child-
Class inheritance-Inheritance of property-Arms and accou-
trements-Precedence taken by female heirs-Rejpus-Woman
hands down family tradition-Orestes

SECTION II.

THE PRIMITIVE FAMILY.

CHAPTER I.

FATHER AND CHILD.

PAGE

90%

94

Different position of father and mother-Fatherhood and procreation

-Licentious customs-Jus primae noctis-Juridical children... 121

CHAPTER IL

POLYANDRY.

McLennan's theory-Child murder and polyandry-Scarcity of

women and polyandry-Stages of polyandry-Transition to

male line-Child murder without significance-Promiscuous

intercourse and polyandry-Polyandry of Nairs-Polyandry

of Thibetans Eldest brother - Limitations of marriage

Causes of polyandry-Forms of polyandry-Family communism 128

CHAPTER III.

THE LEVIRATE AND NIYOGA.

The Levirate-Jews and Hindus-Maine's theory-Mayne's theory-

Son of appointed daughter-Juridical character of fatherhood-

Niyoga-Marriage and patria potestas-Levirate and polyandry

-Spencer's theory - Iranian Levirate and Niyoga-Ossetian

Levirate Juridical motherhood

...

CHAPTER IV.

...

141

INHERITANCE BY BROTHERS, AND OTHER SUPPOSED PROOFS OF POLYANDRY.

Inheritance of rank and property-Personal and family property-
Partition and stewardship of property-Suitability of inheritance
by brothers-Right of firstborn-Polyandry and female line-
Inheritance by widow-Marriage between widow and brother—
Aryan polyandry

...

...