The primitive family in its origin and development / by C.N. Starcke.

  • Carl Nicolai Starcke
Date:
1889
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The primitive family in its origin and development / by C.N. Starcke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the hidden causes of the lines of descent, and confirms the surmises suggested by our observation of the conditions which prevail in Australia. In both countries the social life of men is due to very simple causes, which are there- fore universally applicable. To the east of the mountain range, each of the tribes inhabits a territory of which the limits are strictly defined. The land may either be owned by the chief, or be the common property of the tribe. In the latter case, each tiller of a piece of ground has the use of it as long as he keeps it in cultivation, or else the tillage and har- vest are undertaken in common; either the harvest and the animals killed in hunting are divided as they are required, or each man takes what he wants from the store in hand.’ The tribal bond is a strong one; but, in spite of this, every tribe is divided into several clans, which, although not living apart, hold themselves to be separate corporations with the right of independent action. Wright tells us that in earlier times these clans showed a strong tendency to local exclusiveness.” The female line of descent generally prevails in these tribes. The male line is, however, observed by the Punka, Omaha, Towa, Kaw, Winnebago, Ojibwa, Pota- wattamie, and Abenaki tribes, and by those of the Mis- sissipi and the Rocky Mountains. Among these the Win- nebagoes, Ojibwas, Potawattamies, and at least one of the Mississipi tribes, the Menominees, formerly followed the female line of descent, and the change has taken place under the influence of the missionaries. One of these tribes, the Choctas, is now in process of transition.3 Morgan believes that in the other tribes also, the female line formerly prevailed, but he adduces no proof of this assertion. At the same time he states that the division into clans was a primitive one, and the fact that this division is not found among the tribes of Columbia does ? Waitz, vol. ili. p. 128. 2 Morgan, Ane. Soc., p. 83. 3 Morgan, Ane. Soc., pt. 2, ch. vi.
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