Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 23, 1912.djvu/125



It is a pleasure, and I may say an honour, to have a discussion with Mr. Lang. In the first place he is always courteous, and even generous; in the second he has carefully studied his subject; and in the third he is obviously anxious, not to confute an opponent, but to arrive at the truth.

His article, "Lord Avebury on Marriage, Totemism, and Religion," is no exception.

Marriage.—The first question to which Mr. Lang refers is that of Marriage. He believes that "Man began with individual families," whereas I have suggested that he commenced under what, for want of a better term, I have called "Communal Marriage." Hearne tells us that among the Hudson Bay Indians "it has ever been the custom for the men to wrestle for any woman to whom they are attached; and, of course, the strongest party always carries off the prize."

Richardson confirms this as regards the Copper Indians. He "more than once saw a stronger man assert his right to take the wife of a weaker countryman. Anyone may challenge another to wrestle, and, if he overcomes, may carry off the wife as a prize."

In these cases a man is living with a woman: another man, No. 2, knocks down No. 1, and carries off the woman. Is this a marriage ceremony? Next day another man. No. 3, even stronger