Page:The evolution of marriage and of the family ... (IA evolutionofmarri00letorich).pdf/88

 because it is the proper thing for him to do, since he is called "the lion."

In fact, these abuses of strength exist, more or less, in all countries and all races; but among the Redskins of America and the Esquimaux it seems that public opinion ratifies them, and that might has morally become right.

"When a Toski," says Hooper, "desires the wife of another man, he simply fights with her husband."

"A very ancient custom," says Hearne, "obliges the men to wrestle for any woman to whom they are attached; and of course the strongest party always carries off the prize. A weak man, unless he be a good hunter and well beloved, is seldom permitted to keep a wife that a stronger man thinks worth his notice. This custom prevails throughout all the tribes."

In the same way, among the Copper and Chippeway Indians woman is a property which is little respected, and which the strong may always take from the weak.

Richardson also says that among the Redskins every man has the right to challenge another to fight, and if he is victor, to carry off his wife.

The same customs prevail among the Indians of South America—at least among certain of them. Thus Azara relates that the Guanas never marry before they are over twenty, for earlier than this they would be beaten by their rivals.

It has been attempted to show that these conflicts are the equivalent of what is called in regard to animals "the law of battle," but the comparison is not exact, for animals seem in this respect much more delicate than men. If they fight it is before pairing, and besides, as we have seen, their combats are often courteous, like the tournaments of our ancestors; frequently, too, the object of these assaults is much less to capture the female than to seduce her by displaying before her eyes the qualities with which they are endowed—courage, force, address, and beauty. On her part, the female for whom they are competing is so little