John Hughes
>>In such systems, a man's resources and identity are bound
to his SISTER's children (who are of his lineage/clan), rather than
his own
and his wife's (who belong to her clan). The brother/sister bond will
be
very strong, the husband/wife bond relatively weak. Divorce rates are
high
in most matrilineal societies, and it is usually the woman who sends
her
husband packing. For children, 'father' may be a relatively distant
and
unimportant figure, while 'Uncle' (Mother's Brother) will take very
close
care of them.<<
But if the husband goes to live with the wifes clan, which I believe
is the case in Esrolia, the uncle himself would be sent off to live
with his wife's clan and wouldn't be around to raise his sisters
kids. Or is there some custom in which, say, the oldest brother
doesn't marry and stays with his mothers clan throughout his life?
Mark Mohrfield