The Descent of Man

the related members of the same barbarous
tribe, exposed to all sorts of danger, might be so
much more important, owing to the need of
mutual protection and aid, than that between
the mother and her child, as to lead to the sole
use of terms expressive of the former relationships;
but Mr. Morgan is convinced that this
view is by no means sufficient.
The terms of relationship used in different parts
of the world may be divided, according to the
author just quoted, into two great classes, the
classificatory and descriptive, the latter being
employed by us. It is the classificatory system
which so strongly leads to the belief that communal
and other extremely loose forms of marriage
were originally universal. But as far as I
can see, there is no necessity on this ground for
believing in absolutely promiscuous intercourse;
and I am glad to find that this is Sir J. Lubbock's
view. Men and women, like many of the
lower animals, might formerly have entered