[43] For other instances, see Munzinger, Die Sitten und das Recht der Bogos, p. 36; Post, Afrikanische Jurisprudenz, i. 51 (Somals); Leuschner, in Steinmetz, Rechtsverhältnisse, p. 17 (Bakwiri); Nicole, ibid. p. 100 (Diakité); Beverley, ibid. p. 206 (Wagogo); Marx, ibid. p. 349 (Amahlubi); Sorge, ibid. p. 404 (Nissan Islanders).
[44] Sarbah, Fanti Customary Laws, p. 5. Stuhlmann, op. cit. p. 801 (Latuka). Steinmetz, Rechtsverhältnisse, p. 31 (Banaka and Bapuku). Fama Mademba, ibid. p. 65 (natives of the Sansanding States). Kraft, ibid. p. 286 (Wapokomo), Abercromby, Pre- and Proto-historic Finns, i. 181 (Mordvins).
[45] von Martens, quoted by Nieboer, Slavery as an Industrial System, p. 26, n. 2.
However, the expiration of the paternal power, in the proper sense of the term, does not necessarily imply the loss of all authority over the children. The father, at all events, retains the rights incident to his superior age, and among many uncivilised peoples these are great. Old age commands respect and gives authority.
Among the Fuegians “in each family the word of an old man is accepted as law by the young people; they never dispute his authority.”[46] The Patagonians “pay respect to old people, taking great care of them.”[47] The Caribs “portent un grand respect aus vieillards.”[48] The same is the case among many of the North American Indians.[49] Among the Naudowessies, whilst the advice of a father will seldom meet with any extraordinary attention from the young Indians, “they will tremble before a grandfather, and submit to his injunctions with the utmost alacrity. The words of the ancient part of their community are esteemed by the young as oracles.”[50] Among the Eskimo about Behring Strait the old men are listened to with respect;[51] and among the Point Barrow Eskimo “respect for the opinions of elders is so great that the people may be said to be practically under what is called ‘simple elder rule.’”[52] Among the Veddahs of Ceylon the oldest man “is regarded with a sort of patriarchal respect when accident or occasion has brought together any others than the members of one family.”[53] Among the Jakuts an old man is implicitly obeyed as a father of a family; “a young man ever gives his opinion with the greatest respect and caution; and even when asked, he submits his ideas to the judgment of the old.”[54] Regard for the aged is found among the Ainos,[55] Kurilians,[56] Mongols,[57] Ossetes,[58] Kukis,[59] Nicobarese,[60] Negritos of the Philippine Islands,[61] Papuans of New Guinea[62] New Caledonians,[63] Caroline Islanders,[64] Tonga Islanders,[65] and, in a remarkable degree, among the Australian aborigines.[66] “Among the Kurnai,” says Mr. Howitt, “age meets with great reverence…. It may be stated as a general rule that authority attaches to age. It follows from this that there is no hereditary authority and no hereditary chieftain. The authority which is inherent in age attaches not alone to the man, but also to the woman.” And he justly adds that this principle regulating authority seems to be, not peculiar to the Kurnai, but general to the whole Australian race.[67]
[46] King and Fitzroy, Voyages of the “Adventure” and “Beagle,” ii. 179.
[47] Ibid. ii. 172.
[48] de Poircy-de Rochefort, Histoire des Isles Antilles, p. 461.
[49] Buchanan, North American Indians, p. 7. Prescott, in Schoolcraft, Indian Tribes of the United States, ii. 196.
[50] Carver, Travels through the Interior Parts of North America, p. 243.