16.4. 4. That the Law of Polygamy is an affair that depends on
Calculation.
According to the calculations made in several parts of
Europe, there are here born more boys than girls;
[5]
on the contrary, by
the accounts we have of Asia, there are there born more girls than
boys.
[6]
The law which in Europe allows only one wife, and that in Asia
which permits many, have therefore a certain relation to the climate.
In the cold climates of Asia there are born, as in Europe, more
males than females; and hence, say the Lamas,
[7]
is derived the reason
of that law which amongst them permits a woman to have many husbands.
[8]
But it is difficult for me to believe that there are many countries
where the disproportion can be great enough for any exigency to justify
the introducing either the law in favour of many wives or that of many
husbands. This would only imply that a majority of women, or even a
majority of men, is more conformable to nature in certain countries than
in others.
I confess that if what history tells us be true, that at Bantam
there are ten women to one man,
[9]
this must be a case particularly
favourable to polygamy.
In all this I only give their reasons, but do not justify their
customs.
Footnotes
[5]
Dr. Arbuthnot finds that in England the number of boys exceeds
that of girls; but people have been to blame to conclude that the case
is the same in all climates.
[6]
See Kempfer, who relates that upon numbering the people of Meaco
there were found 182,072 males, and 223,573 females.
[7]
Father Du Halde, "History of China," vol. iv, p. 4.
[8]
Albuzeir-el-hassen, one of the Mahometan Arabs who, in the ninth
century, went into India and China, thought this custom a prostitution.
And indeed nothing could be more contrary to the ideas of a Mahometan.
[9]
"Collection of Voyages that Contributed to the Establishment of
the East India Company," vol.i.
