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the name of Jarilo； corresponding to the Priapus of the Greeks。
Half a century later the new ecclesiastical code； compiled by an
assembly of divines convened in Moscow by the Czar Ivan the
Terrible； took effectual measures for abolishing every vestige of
paganism； amongst them； the yearly festivals held on Christmas
Day； on the day of the baptism of our Lord； and on St。 John the
Baptist； commonly called Midsummer Day。 A general feature of all
these festivals； according to the code； was the prevalence of the
promiscuous intercourse of the sexes。 How far the clergy
succeeded in suppressing these yearly meetings； which had been
regularly held for centuries before on the banks of rivers； we
cannot precisely say； although the fact of their occasional
occurrence； even in modern times； does not tend to prove their
complete abolition。 More than once have I had an opportunity of
being present at these nightly meetings； held at the end of June；
in commemoration of a heathen divinity。 They usually take place
close to a river or pond； large fires are lighted； and over them
young couples； bachelors and unmarried girls； jump barefoot。 I
have never found any trace of licentiousness； but there is no
doubt that cases of licence do occur； though seldom in our time。
That a few centuries ago they were very frequent has been lately
proved by some curious documents preserved in the archives of
some of the provincial ecclesiastical councils； particularly in
those existing in the Government of Kharkov。 According to these
documents； the local clergy were engaged in constant warfare with
the shameful licentiousness which prevailed at the evening
assembles of the peasants； and more than once the clergy
succeeded in inducing the authorities of the village to dissolve
the assemblies by force。 The priests were often wounded； and
obliged to seek refuge in the houses of the village elders from
the stones with which they were pelted。 These evening assemblies
are known to the people of Great Russia under the name of
Posidelki； and to the Little Russians by that of Vechernitzi。
The licentiousness which formed the characteristic feature of
these meetings throws light on the motives which induce the
peasants of certain Great Russian communes to attach but small
importance to virginity。 Russian ethnographers have not
infrequently mentioned the fact of young men living openly with
unmarried women； and； even in case of marriage； of giving
preference to those who were known to have already been mothers。
However peculiar all these facts may seem； they are very
often met with among people of quite a distinct race。 The
Allemanic populations of the Grisons； no longer ago than the
sixteenth century； held regular meetings which were not less
shameful than those of the Cossacks。 The Kilbenen were abolished；
by law （3*） but another custom； in direct antagonism to morality；
continued to exist all over the northern cantons of Switzerland
and in the southern provinces of Wurtemberg and of Baden。 I mean
the custom known under the name of Kirchgang or Dorfgehen； which；
according to the popular songs； consisted in nothing else than
the right of a bachelor to become the lover of some young girl；
and that quite openly； and with the implied consent of the
parents of his sweetheart。 May I also mention a similar custom
amongst the Welsh； known as 〃bundling〃？ I am not well enough
informed as to the character of this custom to insist on its
resemblance to those already mentioned。 The little I have said on
the German survivals of early licence may suffice to establish
this general conclusion： that the comparative immorality of
Russian peasants has no other cause than the survival amongst
them of numerous vestiges of the early forms of marriage。
Another feature of the matriarchal family； the lack of any
prohibition as to marriages between persons who are sprung from
the same father or grandfather； is also mentioned more than once
by early Slavonic writers。 Such marriages were not prohibited by
custom among the old Bohemians or Czechs。 〃Populus miscebatur cum
cognatis；〃 says the biographer of St。 Adalbert。 They are also
frequently mentioned in the epic poems of our peasants； the
so…called bilini； of which the late W。R。S。 Ralston has given to
English readers an accurate and profound analysis。 I will quote
certain passages from these poems to give you the facts on which
my theory is based。
One of the most celebrated heroes of our popular ballads；
Ilia Mourometz。 encounters one day a freebooter named Nightingale
（Solovei Razboinik）。 〃Why；〃 asks the hero； 〃do all thy children
look alike？〃 Nightingale gives the following answer： 〃Because；
when my son is grown up； I marry him to my daughter； and when my
daughter is old enough； I give her my son for a husband； and I do
so in order that my race may not die out。〃 Another popular
ballad； representing the evil customs of former days； describes
them in the following manner：
Brother made war upon brother；
Brother took sister to wife。
Endogamous marriages still occur in a few very remote parts
of Russia。 Such is the case in certain villages in the district
of Onega； and especially in that of Liamika； where the peasants
do their best to infringe the canonical prescriptions which
disallow marriage between blood relations to the fourth degree
inclusively。 The same has also been noticed in certain parts of
the Government of Archangel； quite on the shores of the White
Sea； where the peasants are in the habit of saying that marriages
between blood relations will be blessed with a more rapid
increase of 〃cattle〃 … the word 〃cattle〃 standing in this case
for children。 In some provinces of Siberia and in the district of
Vetlouga； which belongs to the Government of Nijni Novgorod；
endogamous marriages； though contrary to the prevailing custom
are looked upon with a favourable eye。 （4*）
Another fact； which deserves the attention of all partisans
of the theory of the matriarchate； first promulgated by McLennan；
is； the large independence enjoyed by the Slavonic women of old
days。 Let me first quote the words of Cosmas of Prague； which
relate to this subject； and then show you what illustration they
find both in written literature； and in popular ballads and
songs。
Non virgines viri； sed ipsoemet viros； quos et quando voluerunt；
accipiebant。
Such is the statement of Cosmas Pragensis； （ch。 xxi）。 This
means： 〃It is not the men who choose the maids； but the maids
themselves who take the husbands they like； and when they like。〃
This freedom of the Bohemian girls to dispose of their hearts
according to their own wish shows the comparative independence of
the Bohemian women at that period。
The oldest legal code of this people； the sniem； seems to
favour this independence by recognising the right of the women to
be free from any work； except that which is connected with the
maintenance of the household。（5*）
Confronted with the facts just brought forward； the popular
legend； reported by Cosmas in his chronicle； of a kind of
Bohemian Amazons； who took an active part in the wars of the
time； appears in i