Polygyny, like polyandry, is modified in several ways in the direction of monogamy. Often, as in Africa[439] and among many American peoples, a "higher position is given to one of the wives, generally the first married." She possesses superior authority and becomes the real mistress of the household. Thus, according to Waitz, among the Eskimo a second wife is seldom taken unless the first is childless; but in polygynous families the first wife has domestic precedence. The same is true generally of the red Indians of the north-west coast.[440] Among the Siouan tribes the bride's sisters sometimes become subordinate wives;[441] and usually where there are several, according to Dorsey, the first wife and the last are "the favorites, all others being regarded as servants."[442] The principal Indians among the Brazilian Tupinambás, says Souza, "have more than one wife, and he who has most wives is the most honored and esteemed; but they all yield obedience to the eldest wife and all serve her." She "has her hammock tied up next to that of her husband, and between the two there is always a fire burning."[443] Among various peoples it is required "that the first wife shall be of the husband's rank, whilst the succeeding wives may be of lower birth." Sometimes, as among the Chinese, the ancient Hebrews, and the kings of early Egypt, the secondary wives really hold the position of concubines.[444] Frequently the husband has a favorite whom he treats especially as his wife; or conversely, as among the Abipones,[445] he is "bound by custom or law to cohabit with his wives in turn." Finally, it is important to note that everywhere bigamy, or rather duogamy, is the "most common form of polygyny, and a multitude of wives is the luxury of a few despotic rulers or very wealthy men."[446] [439] WAITZ, _Anthropologie_, II, 109; but here the subordinate women are not always legitimate wives. _Cf._ GROSSE, _Die Formen der Familie_, 109; FRITSCH, _Die Eingeborenen Süd-Afrikas_, 114, 192, 193, 227, 363. [440] WAITZ, _op. cit._, III, 308, 328. In the Ungava District the children of the first wife take precedence: TURNER, _op. cit._, 190; _cf._ NIBLACK, "Coast Indians," _Rep. Smith. Inst., 1888_, 367. [441] MCGEE, "The Siouan Indians," _XV. Rep. of Bureau of Eth._, 178.