eld of such interference with
the love-making of the young people, it affords strong proof of the
error which has hitherto connected the maternal system with
unregulated sexual relationships. This is a fact I am again and again
compelled to point out, risking the fear of wearying the reader.

[60] Bancroft, _op. cit._, pp. 546, 547.

Among some tribes freedom is permitted to the women before marriage.
Heriot states that the natives who allow this justify the custom, and
say "that a young woman is mistress of her own person, and a free
agent."[61] The tie of marriage is, however, observed more strictly
than among many civilised monogamous races. And this is so, although
divorce is always easy and by mutual consent; a couple being able to
separate at once if they are dissatisfied with each other. Here are
facts that may well cause us to think. As for the courtship, the usual
custom is reversed; when a girl is disposed to marry she does not wait
for a young man to propose to her, but selects one to her liking, and
then consults her family as to his suitability as a husband. The
suitor has to serve the bride's family before he can be accepted, and
in some cases the conditions are binding and exceedingly curious.

[61] Heriot, _op. cit._, p. 340.

How simple and really beautiful are the conditions of life among these
people may be seen from the idyllic record of the Zuni Indians given
by Mr. Cushing.[62] He describes how the Zuni girl, when taking a
fancy to a young man, conveys a present of thin _hewe_-bread to him as
a token, and becomes his affianced, or as they say "his-to-be." He
then sews clothes and moccasins for her, makes her a necklace of gay
beads, and combs her hair out on the terrace in the sun. After his
term of service is over, and all is settled, he takes up his residence
with her; then the married life begins. "With the woman rests the
security of the marriage tie, and, it must be said, in her high
honour, that she rarely abuses the privilege; that is, never sends her
husband 'to the home of his fathers' unless he richly deserves it."
Divorce is by mutual consent, and a husband and wife would "rather
separate than live together unharmoniously." This testimony is
confirmed by Mrs. Stevenson, who visited the Zunis, and writes with
enthusiasm of the people. "Their domestic life might well serve as an
example for the civilised world. They do not have large families. The
husband and wife are deeply at