, perhaps, be rash to make any definite statement. We may recall
what Tacitus says of the Germans:

[217] _Mutterrecht und Raubehe und ihre Reste im Germanischen
Recht und Leben_, Vol. XVI, quoted by Starcke, _The Primitive
Family_, pp. 103 _et seq._

"The son of a sister is as dear to his uncle as to his father; some
even think that the first of these ties is the most sacred and close;
and in taking hostages they prefer nephews, as inspiring a stronger
attachment, and interesting the family on more sides." The same
authority tells us that the Germans of his day met together to take a
clan meal, to settle clan business, _i. e._ for the clan council--and
to arrange marriages. This is strong confirmation of what I am trying
to establish.[218] Further evidence may be gathered from the ancient
religion. There are many Teutonic goddesses, who may well be connected
with the primitive tribal-mothers.[219] Religion here, as so often
elsewhere, would seem to have been symbolised as feminine. Not only
the seers, but the sacrificers among the early Teutons were
women.[220] To this evidence may be added that in Germany up to a late
period the mother could be the guardian of her children; that a wife
had to be bought by the husband, both she and her children remaining
under the guardianship of her father. All this points to mother-right
and the existence of the maternal clan.[221] Let us note also that in
the Slav communities women had the right to vote, and might be elected
to the government of the community.

[218] _De moribus Germanorum_, XX. See also K. Pearson, _The
Chances of Death_, Vol. II, p. 132.

[219] Grimm, _Mythologie_, Vol. I, p. 248.

[220] K. Pearson, _The Chances of Death_, Vol. II, p. 102.

[221] Starcke, _op. cit._ p. 105, citing Dargun and Grimm.
See also Letourneau, _op. cit._ pp. 339-340.

It will interest my readers to know that mother-descent must once
have prevailed in Britain. Among the Picts of Scotland kingship was
transmitted through women.[222] Bede tells us that down to his own
time--the early part of the eighth century--whenever a doubt arose as
to the succession, the Picts chose their king from the female rather
than from the male line.[223] There is an ancient legend which
represents the Irish as giving three hundred wives to the Picts, on
the condition that the succession to the crown should always be
through their females--

"There were oathes imp