Page:Montesquieu - The spirit of laws.djvu/413

Rh born more boys than girls ; on the contrary, by the accounts we have of Asia, there are there born more girls than boys. The law which in Europe allows only one wife, and that in Asia which permits many, have therefore a certain relation to the climate.

In the cold climates of Asia, there are born as in Europe, more males than females; and from hence, say the Lamas, is derived the reason of that law, which amongst them, permits of a woman to have many husbands.

But it is difficult for me to believe that there are many countries, where the disproportion can be great enough for any exigency to justify the introducing either the law in favour of many wives, or that of many husbands. This would only imply, that a majority of women, or even a majority of men, is more conformable to nature in certain countries than in others.

I confess, that if what history tells us be true, that, at Bantam there are ten women to one man, this must be a case particularly favourable to polygamy.

In all this I only give their reasons, but do not justify their customs. Rh