lodging together in one common place of reft at night.

THE original families of mankind consisted not of two parents, one male and one female, and their immediate defcendants. They were composed of feveral males and females, herding together, eating in common, and fleeping promifcuously with their common offspring. The Galic language furnishes a curious proof of this propofition. The two words denoting family, in that language, are Coeidichc and Teadhlach*.. These two words, etymologifed, fignify literally, eating in common, and refort or rendezvous at night. The pronunciation of the last of these words is in the compound a little varied from that of the original words. But the word is. evidently composed of Tadhal, which fignifies refort, and Oich, night. Thus family derived its name from the two chief circumstances which

*Teadhlach in the oblique cafes ends in oich. Coeidiche denotes alfo any company..

figured

figured most forcibly in the imagination as linking together a certain number of people. The characteristic marks of primitive family ftill remaining, those two words naturally continued to be applied to one man and one woman and their children, after marriage was introduced, and a permanent union of the fexes established. The origin of that inftitution fhall be confidered in another place.

In each family, or little horde, there was a Rei, a divider or distributor of the common stock of provisions; but his authority was of a very limited nature, and by no means extended over any other feparate or distinct horde or family.

ALTHOUGH the small hordes flept and fed in common upon ordinary occafions, yet upon days of public feftivity and mirth, the whole tribe would be affembled to eat, drink, and dance together. Upon fuch occafions a Rei, or diftri

butor,

butor, would be neceffary. The office of diftributor would be affumed by the Sachem, or great: chief of the whole tribe, who thus would hold a more dignified place, and, for the time, a higher rank than any other member of the fociety.

THE office of diftributor, in primitive fociety, at meals and feafts, is not ideal or imaginary: its existence in the customs of rude nations is evinced from their history.

FATHER Jerom Merolla, in his account of a voyage to Congo, defcribes the customs of the inhabitants of that island, in their eating and drinking at feasts, which they celebrated in great numbers." A great company being got toge

ther, they fit round in a ring upon the green. "grafs; which having done, a large thick round "wooden platter is placed in the midst of them. “This platter is called by them Malorga. The ❝eldest of them, whom in their language they

❝. call

"call Maculuntu or Cocolocangi, is to divide and "difpenfe to every one his portion; which he "performs with that exactness, that, if there "happen to be a bit better than ordinary, that " is likewife divided proportionally among the ❝company. By these means there are no com"plaints or murmurs to be heard amongst them, "but every one is contented with what is "allotted him. When they drink, they make "ufe of neither cups nor glaffes, to the end ❝that every man may have what is judged "fufficient for him, and no more. The judge "of this is the Maculuntu, who holds the "moringo, or flask, to the perfon's mouth that "drinks; and when he thinks he has drank “fufficient, he pulls it away. This is practifed

That

❝ all along, even to the end of the feast. "which seems strangest to me is, that if any "perfon whatsoever, man or woman, great or "small, though not known to them, happens to ❝ pass by where the guests are eating, he or she "thrusts into the ring, and has an equal share

❝ with

"with the reft, without the trouble of making

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any compliment, or speaking a word. If this "stranger happens to come after the portions "are allotted, then is the carver to take fome"thing from every man's mefs, to make up a "fhare for him. If it fo chance that many un"invited guests come, they all have the afore"faid liberty, and may eat and drink as freely "as if they had been invited. When the tra❝vellers perceive the platter empty, they rise "up and go their ways, without taking any ❝ leave, or returning thanks to the company."

THE learned Father fays of himself, “It has "happened to me, that, being about to entertain "fome perfons who had been serviceable to me, ❝ at dinner-time, I obferved the number of my "guests greatly increased; whereupon, asking "who those new-comers were, they answered, "they did not know; which caused me to re"ply, Then do ye allow of those to eat with

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'ye, who have had no fhare in your labour?'