“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 imposed on them, By the stars, by the earth, That from the nobility of the mother Should always be the right to the sovereignty.”[224] [222] Giraud-Teulon, _op. cit._ pp. 41-42. [223] Bede, II. 1-7. [224] McLennan, _Studies_, p. 46.