ly
to the predominance of female influence on the social life of the
people. Wherever the control over the means of production is in the
hands of women, we find them exercising influence and even authority.
Among these islanders the women do not merely bestow life on the
people, they also work to obtain that which is most essential for the
preservation of life, and therefore they are called "mothers of the
land."[94] Now, considering this honour paid to the Pelew women, it is
clearly impossible to regard their work in cultivating the taro as a
sign of their subordinate position in the social order. The facts of
primitive life are often mistaken. This is a question to which I shall
refer again in a later chapter.

[94] Frazer, _op. cit._, p. 380.

In the same way among the Pani Kotches, tribes of Bengal, we find the
women in a privileged position, due to their greater industrial
activity and intelligence.

"It is the women's business to dig the soil, to sow and
plant, as well as to spin, weave and brew beer; they refuse
no task, and leave only the coarsest labour to the men. The
mother of the family marries her daughter at an early age;
at the feast of betrothal she dispenses half as much again
to the bride as to the bridegroom-elect. As for the grown-up
girls and the widows, they know very well how to find
husbands; the wealthy never lack partners. The chosen one
goes to reside with his mother-in-law, who both reigns and
governs, with her daughter for prime minister. If the
consort permits himself to incur expenses without special
authorisation, he must meet them as best he can. Fathers of
families have been known to be sold as slaves, the wives
refusing to pay the penalties they incurred. Under these
circumstances, it was lawful for them to marry again."[95]

[95] Hodgson, _Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal_, 1847
(Dalton).

Here, as among the Pelew islanders, special industrial conditions are
combined with the maternal system, and as a result we find what may,
perhaps, be termed "an economic matriarchy." Another cause of
authority, quite as powerful, is the possession by women of inherited
property. Among barbarous peoples the importance of this is not so
great, but where mother-descent has, for any reason, been maintained
up to a time when individual possession has been developed and
property is large, we meet with a rem