Among the nomadic Tangutans the women’s rights in the household seemed to Prejevalsky to be equal to those of the men.[82] Of the Todas of India it is said that their women “hold a position in the family quite unlike what is ordinarily witnessed among Oriental nations. They are treated with respect, and are permitted a remarkable amount of freedom.”[83] Among the Kandhs women “are uniformly treated with respect; the mothers of families generally with much honour. Nothing is done either in public or in private affairs without consulting them, and they generally exert upon the councils of their tribes a powerful influence.” A wife may quit her husband at any time, except within a year of her marriage, or when she expects offspring, or within a year after the birth of a child, though, when she quits him, he has a right to reclaim immediately from her father the whole sum paid for her.[84] Among the peasants of the North-Western Provinces of India the wife is an influential personage in the household, not a mere drudge. Little is done without her knowledge and advice. If she is badly wronged the tribal council will protect her, and on the whole her position is, perhaps, not worse than that of her sisters in a similar grade of life in other parts of the world.[85] Among the Káttis the men are much under the authority of their wives.[86] Among the Bheels women “have much influence in the society,” and married men have always had the credit of allowing their wives to domineer over them.[87] “A Kol or Ho,” says Dr. Hayes, “makes a regular companion of his wife. She is consulted in all difficulties, and receives the fullest consideration due to her sex”;[88] and Colonel Dalton adds, “As a rule, in no country in the world are wives better treated.”[89] The Garos are “kind husbands, and their conduct generally towards the weaker sex is marked by consideration and respect.”[90] The Bódo and Dhimáls “use their wives and daughters well, treating them with confidence and kindness.”[91] The Santal “treats the female members of his family with respect.”[92] Among the Kukis women are generally held in consideration; “their advice is taken, and they have much influence.”[93] Mr. Colquhoun observes that among the Indo-Chinese races equality of the sexes prevails, and prevailed long before Buddhism took any hold upon the country.[94]
[82] Prejevalsky, Mongolia, ii. 121.
[83] Marshall, A Phrenologist amongst the Todas, p. 43.
[84] Macpherson, Memorials of Service in India, pp. 69, 132 sq.
[85] Crooke, North-Western Provinces of India, p. 230 sq.
[86] Rowney, Wild Tribes of India, p. 47.
[87] Malcolm, Memoir of Central India, ii. 180. Rowney, op. cit. p. 38.
[88] Hayes, quoted by Dalton, Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal, p. 194. Cf. Bradley-Birt, Chota-Nagpore, p. 100 sq.
[89] Dalton, op. cit. p. 194.
[90] Ibid. p. 68.