There is one duty so universal and obvious that it is seldom mentioned: the mother’s duty to rear her children, provided that they are suffered to live. Another duty—equally primitive, I believe, in the human race—is incumbent on the married man: the protection and support of his family. We hear of this duty from all quarters of the savage world.
Among the North American Indians it was considered disgraceful for a man to have more wives than he was able to maintain.[1] Mr. Powers says that among the Patwin, a Californian tribe which he believes to rank among the lowest in the world, “the sentiment that the men are bound to support the women—that is to furnish the supplies—is stronger even than among us.”[2] Among the Iroquois it was the office of the husband “to make a mat, to repair the cabin of his wife, or to construct a new one.” The product of his hunting expeditions, during the first year of marriage, belonged of right to his wife, and afterwards he shared it equally with her, whether she remained in the village, or accompanied him to the chase.[3] Among the Botocudos, whose girls are married very young, remaining in the house of the father till the age of puberty, the husband is even then obliged to maintain his wife, though living apart from her.[4] Among the Lengua Indians of the Paraguayan Chaco the child of a woman whose husband deserts her is generally killed at birth, the mother feeling that it is the man’s part of married life to provide meat for his offspring.[5] Azara states that, among the Charruas, “du moment où un homme se marie, il forme une famille à part, et travaille pour la nourrir.”[6] Of the Fuegians it is said that, “as soon as a youth is able to maintain a wife, by his exertions in fishing or bird-catching, he obtains the consent of her relations.”[7] The wretched Rock Veddahs in Ceylon “acknowledge the marital obligation and the duty of supporting their own families.”[8] Among the Maldivians, “although a man is allowed four wives at one time, it is only on condition of his being able to support them.”[9] The Nairs, we are told, consider it a husband’s duty to provide his wife with food, clothing, and ornaments;[10] and almost the same is said by Dr. Schwaner with reference to the tribes of the Barito district, in the south east part of Borneo.[11] Among the cannibals of New Britain the chiefs have to see that the families of the warriors are properly maintained.[12] Concerning the Tonga Islanders Mariner states that “a married woman is one who cohabits with a man, and lives under his roof and protection.”[13] Among the Maoris “the mission of woman was to increase and multiply, that of man to defend his home.”[14] With reference to the Kurnai in South Australia, Mr. Howitt states that “the man has to provide for his family with the assistance of his wife. His share is to hunt for their support, and to fight for their protection.”[15] In Lado, in Africa, the bridegroom has to assure his father-in-law three times that he will protect his wife, calling the people present to witness.[16] Among the Touareg a man who deserts his wife is blamed, as he has taken upon himself the obligation of maintaining her.[17]
[1] Waitz, Anthropologie der Naturvölker, iii. 109. Carver, Travels through the Interior Parts of North America, p. 367.
[2] Powers, Tribes of California, p. 222.
[3] Heriot, Travels through the Canadas, p. 338.
[4] von Tschudi, Reisen durch Südamerika, ii. 283.
[5] Hawtrey, in Jour. Anthr. Inst. xxxi. 295.
[6] Azara, Voyages dans l’Amérique méridionale, ii. 22.
[7] King and Fitzroy, Voyages of the “Adventure” and “Beagle,” ii. 182.
[8] Tennent, Ceylon, ii. 441.