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above ground contend。
In childhood they perform the offices of work and labour impartially
with the boys； and； indeed； in the earlier age appropriated to the
destruction of animals irreclaimably hostile； the girls are frequently
preferred； as being by constitution more ruthless under the influence of
fear or hate。 In the interval between infancy and the marriageable age
familiar intercourse between the sexes is suspended。 At the marriageable
age it is renewed； never with worse consequences than those which attend
upon marriage。 All arts and vocations allotted to the one sex are open to
the other； and the Gy…ei arrogate to themselves a superiority in all those
abstruse and mystical branches of reasoning； for which they say the Ana
are unfitted by a duller sobriety of understanding； or the routine of
their matter…of…fact occupations； just as young ladies in our own world
constitute themselves authorities in the subtlest points of theological
doctrine； for which few men； actively engaged in worldly business have
sufficient learning or refinement of intellect。 Whether owing to early
training in gymnastic exercises； or to their constitutional organisation；
the Gy…ei are usually superior to the Ana in physical strength （an
important element in the consideration and maintenance of female
rights）。 They attain to loftier stature； and amid their 42rounder
proportions are imbedded sinews and muscles as hardy as those of the
other sex。 Indeed they assert that； according to the original laws of
nature； females were intended to be larger than males； and maintain this
dogma by reference to the earliest formations of life in insects； and in
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The Coming Race
the most ancient family of the vertebrata… viz。； fishes… in both of which
the females are generally large enough to make a meal of their consorts
if they so desire。 Above all； the Gy…ei have a readier and more
concentred power over that mysterious fluid or agency which contains
the element of destruction； with a larger portion of that sagacity which
comprehends dissimulation。 Thus they cannot only defend themselves
against all aggressions from the males； but could； at any moment when
he least expected his danger； terminate the existence of an offending
spouse。 To the credit of the Gy…ei no instance of their abuse of this
awful superiority in the art of destruction is on record for several ages。
The last that occurred in the community I speak of appears （according to
their chronology） to have been about two thousand years ago。 A Gy；
then； in a fit of jealousy； slew her husband； and this abominable act
inspired such terror among the males that they emigrated in a body and
left all the Gy…ei to themselves。 The history runs that the widowed Gy…
ei； thus reduced to despair； fell upon the murderess when in her sleep
（and therefore unarmed）； and killed her； and then entered into a solemn
obligation amongst themselves to abrogate forever the exercise of their
extreme conjugal powers； and to inculcate the same obligation for ever
and ever on their female children。 By this conciliatory process； a
deputation despatched to the fugitive consorts succeeded in persuading
many to return； but those who did return were mostly the elder ones。
The younger； either from too craven a doubt of their consorts； or too
high an estimate of their own merits； rejected all overtures； and；
remaining in other communities； were caught up there by other mates；
with whom perhaps they were no better off。 But the loss 43of so large
a portion of the male youth operated as a salutary warning on the Gy…ei；
and confirmed them in the pious resolution to which they pledged
themselves。 Indeed it is now popularly considered that； by long
hereditary disuse； the Gy…ei have lost both the aggressive and defensive
superiority over the Ana which they once possessed； just as in the
inferior animals above the earth many peculiarities in their original
formation； intended by nature for their protection； gradually fade or
become inoperative when not needed under altered circumstances。 I
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The Coming Race
should be sorry； however； for any An who induced a Gy to make the
experiment whether he or she were the stronger。
》From the incident I have narrated； the Ana date certain alterations in
the marriage customs； tending； perhaps； somewhat to the advantage of the
male。 They now bind themselves in wedlock only for three years； at the
end of each third year either male or female can divorce the other and is
free to marry again。 At the end of ten years the An has the privilege
of taking a second wife； allowing the first to retire if she so please。
These regulations are for the most part a dead letter； divorces and
polygamy are extremely rare； and the marriage state now seems singularly
happy and serene among this astonishing people；… the Gy…ei；
notwithstanding their boastful superiority in physical strength and
intellectual abilities； being much curbed into gentle manners by the dread
of separation or of a second wife； and the Ana being very much the
creatures of custom； and not； except under great aggravation； likely to
exchange for hazardous novelties faces and manners to which they are
reconciled by habit。 But there is one privilege the Gy…ei carefully retain；
and the desire for which perhaps forms the secret motive of most lady
asserters of woman ri