able to maintain them; though it is very rare indeed for a man to be in the possession of

more than two wives; of which the first, or eldest, is the senior in command and respect.

In the same way, it is the strongest, or most useful, woman who most readily obtains a second husband: while, under either mode of this polygamy, or bigamy, the most perfect harmony seems to subsist among the parties. If, never witnessing any angry word between husband and wife, and seeing each ever treating the other with indulgence and frankness, we were willing to conclude that these people had attained that perfection of domestic happiness which is so rarely found anywhere, it is a conclusion, I fear, that reflection would not justify, and that a more intimate experience would not confirm. The matrimonial forms differ but very slightly among the different tribes of Esquimaux. It would appear that it is necessary for the young female to make her choice as soon as she is marriageable, but the contract, such as it is, is settled. between the parents for their children, and often at a very early age, the time of marriage being about the age of fifteen; and there is no other form but that of the female going to the hut of her destined husband."

Captain Ross further states, that "the practice of repudiation and change, whether of husbands

or wives, has been found in all the Esquimaux who have come under the notice of navigators. Be that as it may, it is the custom in this district, though it is not easy to trace the extent to which it is carried. How far it may depend on satiety or disagreement, we could not discover, or on the desire of change, or on more improper feelings, on either side; but when the morals and the feelings are both so extremely lax as we found them, it would be an idle and silly defence of this, or any other mode of the savage life, to suppose that vice, or what, at least, we must consider such, was a frequent source of this practice. It has been too much the custom both to overrate the virtues of savage nations, and exaggerate their vices.

"It sometimes happens, although rarely, that a woman has two husbands. Kakikagin is here represented as standing between them; she was a powerful and robust woman, of about twentyfive years of age, and five feet three inches and a quarter in height; her face was broad, her eyes, nose, and mouth small, as also her hands and feet, in proportion to her figure, which was completely embonpoint; her favourite husband was Aknalna, who was decidedly better looking

than Payettak; accordingly the latter was sent out to hunt and procure food, whilst the other

remained at home; and it was rather surprising to see how cheerfully he would obey, from time to time, this, which appeared to us, unfair command of a capricious or partial wife, and bring home the fruits of his labour to be equally divided."

It seems that this most singular people generally live together in the greatest domestic harmony: "man and wife being in their respective families, as the sun and moon in the firmament of heaven: he rules by day, and she by night; that is, in the lesser and more proper circles of her affairs-in the conduct of domestic provisions and necessary offices, and shines only by his light, and rules by his authority; and as the moon, in opposition to the sun, shines brightest, that is, when she is in her own circles, so is the authority of the wife most conspicuous, when she is separate, and in her own proper sphere."*

The Chinese are, perhaps, the most disciplined barbarians under the face of the sun. In order to obtain a wife, the lover must commence by making presents to different branches of the lady's family: this is invariably done in a most systematic manner, and without betraying the least degree of passion. The marriage generally depends upon the pleasure of parents and relations, whose decisions are, doubtless, much biassed by the value of the presents sent. After the engagement is entered

* Jeremy Taylor's "Marriage Ring."