rriage. Their
husbands "do not fall far short of them." The women will not renew their
leaf aprons in the presence of each other.[1385] The Yakuts use leather
guarantees of their wives and daughters, similar to the mediaeval
device,[1386] which always implies that the wife will make use of any
opportunity. The Yakut women wore garments even in bed.[1387] The Eskimo
of eastern Greenland do not disapprove of a husbandless mother but of a
childless wife.[1388] Bushmen women observe a stricter taboo than their
Kaffir neighbors. They refuse illicit relations with the latter,
although the Kaffirs are a superior race.[1389] The Zulu women observe a
strict taboo with noteworthy fidelity.[1390] Madame Pommerol[1391]
represents the Arab women of the nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes of
southern Algiers as destitute of moral training. They have no code of
morals or religion. [What she means is that they have no character by
education.] They shun men, but handle the veil in a coquettish manner
according to artificial and excessive usages. They act only between
impulses of desire and fear of fathers or husbands. Fidelity has no
sense, since they do not feel the loyalty either of duty or affection.
The Mayas of the lowest classes sent out their daughters to earn their
own marriage portions.[1392] On the Palau Islands mothers train their
daughters to make gain of themselves in the local shell money and bring
the same to their parents. The girls become _armengols_; that is, they
live in the clubhouses which are the residences of the young men, where
they do domestic work and win influence. An insult to such a woman is an
insult to the club. The origin of the custom was in war; the women were
captives. Some are now given in tribute. "The custom is not a pure
expression of sensuality." As there is no family life this is the
woman's chance to know men and influence them. It is rated as
education.[1393] Semper[1394] quotes native justification of the custom.
A man's young last-wedded wife complained to his older wife that he
made her serve the _armengols_. The older wife told her to remember that
she had herself enjoyed this life and had been served by the married
women. All girls liked to earn the money by which, when they came home,
they got husbands. It was ancient custom and must be obeyed. If the
married women refused to do their duty, the men would not be served, for
a married woman might never show the world that she was on intimate
ter