Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/376

368 the recently published volume on The Patriarchal Theory, and has led us to eagerly anticipate the publication of some further researches, a new edition of this old work, uniform with these posthmuousposthumous [sic] volumes, is very welcome. The editor, in a short preface, makes a most necessary protest against the misuse of the terms exogamy and endogamy, as first used by Mr. McLennan in 1865. Exogamy is that law of marriage which forbids an union between persons of the same blood: sometimes they belong to the same tribe, more often to different tribes; but it is not a question of a tribe but one of blood relationship. Endogamy is that law of marriage which enjoins an union between persons of the same blood; sometimes they belong to different tribes, more often to the same tribe; but here again it is not a question of tribe but one of blood relationship. But it has been assumed by writers who have dealt with these subjects that tribal, not blood relationship was the key to the terms exogamy and endogamy; and hence much confusion has arisen.

The subjects treated of in this volume are the same as those in the earlier edition of 1876, and the present editor has added such notes as were necessary to give additional evidence to the arguments of the text. The last chapter is devoted to the "divisions in the ancient Irish family," known as Geilfine, Deirbfine, Iarfine, and Indfine, and Mr. McLennan advances an ingenious explanation opposed to that of Sir Henry Maine. But, in its turn, this explanation does not meet all the conditions of this curiously complex system, and in the fourth volume of the Brehon Law tracts Mr. McLennan's views are confuted, and a much more acceptable theory propounded. The editor does not notice this fact: but we are far from saying that it does away with the necessity of reprinting Mr. McLennan's masterly contribution to the subject, because, unquestionably, he advances some propositions which are undeniably true, and have largely helped the later authorities in their investigations. It is unnecessary to touch upon all the subjects treated of in this valuable volume because it is doubtless well known to our readers, having been so long a text-book to those interested in these fascinating problems of early history; but we are tempted to complain that no index has been added to this edition.