ninth-century glossary as--_operum atque artificiorum initia_. She was
the tribal-mother of the Bringantes. Similarly Vote was tribal-mother
of the Burgundians; and the goddess Bil of the Billings, and there are
numerous other cases. In a recent book on _Ulster Folk-lore_,[228] I
have been fortunate enough to find a most interesting passage
referring to the Irish goddess Brigit. I quote it with pleasure as a
fitting ending to this chapter.[229]

"Now, St. Bridget had a pagan predecessor, Brigit, a poetess
of the Tuatha de Danann, and whom we may perhaps regard as a
female Apollo. Cormac in his _Glossary_ tells us she was a
daughter of the Dagda and a goddess whom all poets adored,
and whose sisters were Brigit the physician and Brigit the
smith. Probably the three sisters represent the same divine,
or semi-divine, person whom we may identify with the British
goddess Brigantia and the Gaulish Brigindo."

[228] By E. Andrews, p. 18.

[229] I would refer the reader to a most interesting article
on "Old English Clans" (_Cornhill_, Sept. 1881); this I had
not read when I wrote this chapter. The author holds that the
clan system was once common to the whole Aryan race. In the
Teutonic stock its memory died out in an early stage of
development, owing to the strong individuality of the
Teutonic mind. Yet it has left behind it many traces.
Numerous examples are given. Perhaps the most interesting is
the evidence showing that totemism seems to have existed; the
clan names being taken from animals or plants.

CHAPTER XI

THE SURVIVALS OF MOTHER-RIGHT IN FOLK-LORE, IN HEROIC LEGENDS, AND IN
FAIRY STORIES

In the preceding chapter we have found the former existence of the
maternal family, or some indication of it, in the early records of
many races, proving this by numerous survivals of customs entirely at
variance with the patriarchal conditions. Should it be thought that
this claim has not been supported by sufficient evidence, I must plead
the difficulties of such an inquiry. My survey has been very
incomplete. I am certain, however, that these survivals will be
recognised by any one who will undertake for themselves the collection
and interpretation of the facts from the records of the past.

There is a point to consider here. The absence, or rather the rarity,
of mother-right survivals in some civilisations cannot be counted a