[140] Drury, Adventures during Fifteen Years’ Captivity on the Island of Madagascar, p. 172 sq.
[141] Ellis, History of Madagascar, i. 139. For other African instances, see Mungo Park, Travels in the Interior of Africa, p. 17 (Mandingoes); Burton, Abeokuta, i. 303 (Yoruba); Idem, Two Trips to Gorilla Land, i. 106 (Mpongwe); Monrad, Guinea-Kysten og dens Indbyggere, p. 7; Johnston, River Congo, p. 423 (races of the Upper Congo); Wilson and Felkin, op. cit. i. 225 (Waganda).
Among many savages the old people, in particular, have a claim to support and assistance, not only from their own children or relatives, but from the younger members of the community generally.
Among the Australian natives the old men get the best and largest share of everything, and are allowed to monopolise the youngest and best-looking women, whilst a young man must consider himself fortunate if he can get an old woman for wife.[142] Among the Tonga Islanders “every aged man and woman enjoys the attentions and services of the younger branches of society.”[143] In the Kingsmill Islands “generosity, hospitality, and attention to the aged and infirm are virtues highly esteemed and generally practised among all the natives.”[144] Among the Kafirs, when persons advanced in years become sick and helpless, “everyone is eager to afford them assistance.”[145] In the opinion of the Aleuts, “feeble old men must be respected and attended when they need aid, and the young and strong should give them a share of their booty and help them through all their troubles, endeavouring to obtain in exchange their good advice only.”[146]
[142] Eyre, op. cit. ii. 385 sq. Mathew, in Jour. & Proceed. Roy. Soc. N.S. Wales, xxiii. 407. Lumholtz, Among Cannibals, p. 163. Cf. Grey, Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, ii. 248; Brough Smyth, op. cit. i. 138; Spencer and Gillen, Native Tribes of Central Australia, p. 51.
[143] Mariner, op. cit. ii. 155.
[144] Hale, U.S. Exploring Expedition. Vol. VI. Ethnography and Philology, p. 95.
[145] Lichtenstein, op. cit. i. 265.
[146] Veniaminof, quoted by Petroff, loc. cit. p. 155.
The sick, also, are often very carefully attended to.