Though in countries where polygamy is once established
the number of wives is principally determined by the opulence of the
husband, yet it cannot be said that opulence established polygamy in
those states, since poverty may produce the same effect, as I shall
prove when I come to speak of the savages.
Polygamy, in powerful nations, is less a luxury in itself than the
occasion of great luxury. In hot climates they have few wants, and it
costs little to maintain a wife and children;
[4]
they may therefore have
a great number of wives.
