Note 6 — Chapter IV · [89] SEXUAL ASPECT OF MARRIAGE

We mentioned above that if the Pirrauru relation, according to Howitt's supposition there quoted, only involved sexual licence during big tribal gatherings, this relation would be absolutely deprived of any of the characters that are the chief constituents of marriage and family. But here we must indicate that such an assumption is not quite justifiable. In fact, in some of the facts related about the Pirraurus, there are hints pointing to the existence of economic bonds and of community in daily life between Pirraurus. We read[329] that if in the absence of her husband a woman lives with one or two of her Pirraurus, she occupies with them one hut and shares with them the food. Therefore, in the absence of her husband, a Pirrauru actually took his place, and in this case the Pirrauru relationship is not merely a sexual connection, but it assumes the real form of marriage. In another place[330] we read that a man possessing several Pirraurus may lend one of them to some one who is deprived of this advantage. Thus it seems that the Pirraurus acquire a kind of real right over their Pirrauru wives; and that it goes as far as the faculty of disposing of them. And again we are informed that if a woman has a young man for a Pirrauru she is often jealous of him and looks strictly after him, and if he does not obey her readily enough, tries even to compel him by punishment.[331] All these instances, which could perhaps be further multiplied, show that under certain circumstances, which we unfortunately do not know with sufficient precision, the Pirrauru relationship assumes a much more serious character than a mere sexual licence exercised during a few hours.