CHAP. V.
The Reason of a Law of Malabar.
Book XVI.
Chap. 5, & 6.IN the tribe of the[1] Naires, on the coast of Malabar, the men can have only one wife, while a woman, on the contrary, may have many husbands. The origin of this custom is not I believe difficult to discover. The Naires are the tribe of nobles, who are the soldiers of all those nations. In Europe, soldiers are forbid to marry: in Malabar, where the climate requires greater indulgence, they are satisfied with rendering marriage as little burthensome to them as possible; they give a wife amongst many men, which consequently diminishes the attachment to a family, and the cares of housekeeping, and leaves them in the free possession of a military spirit.
CHAP. VI.
Of Polygamy considered in itself.
WITH regard to polygamy in general, independently of the circumstances which may render it tolerable, it is not of the lead service to mankind, nor to either of the two sexes, whether it be that which abuses, or that which is abused. Neither is it of service to the children; for one of its greatest inconveniencies is, that the father and mother cannot have the same affection for their off-
- ↑ See Francis Pirnrd, c. 27. Edifying Letters, 3d and l0th collection on the Malleami on the coast of Malabar. This is considered as an abuse of the military profession, as a woman, says Pirard, of the tribe ot the Bramins never would marry many husbands.
