Note 59 — Chapter I · Marriage Laws and Customs.

II. Pollock and Maitland’s History English Law, p. 364; Tacitus Germania c. 18. The old Babylonians and Assyrians held a regular market day at a public place, for the sale of their daughters. (Wood’s “Wedding Day in All Ages and Countries,” vol. I., p. 70.)

The custom of purchasing wives was known to the ancient Greeks and was strongly opposed by Aristotle. The payment of money was frequently the only form of marriage, in ancient Greece. (Wood’s “Wedding Day in All Ages and Countries,” vol. I., pp. 33, 47, 51.)

In Syria every man paid a sum for his wife, proportionate to the rank of her father. (Ante. idem., p. 72.)

The Arabians bought their wives as they did their slaves. (Ante idem., p. 82.)

Burckhardt says that among the Bedouins, of Mount Sinai, marriage is a mere matter of purchase and sale. (Ante idem., p. 85.)

And the same custom obtained among the Mohammedans, Javanese, Ethiopians, Circassians, Ostiacs, a Tarter tribe, Laplanders, the ancient Germans, Romans and French, as well as our early Saxon ancestors. (Wood’s “Wedding Day in All Ages and Countries,” vol. I., pp. 90, 155, 174, 210, 214, and vol. II., pp. 3, 173, 247.)

The custom of purchasing wives is perhaps derived from the old Salic law. It was known to the ancient Jews, as well as the other nations above mentioned and the custom of marriage portions and doweries is no doubt the outgrowth of this old practice. (Wood’s “Wedding Day in All Ages and Countries,” vol. II., p. 173.)