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All Collections > The Complete Works of Montesquieu. Electronic Edition. > Volume I. > body > book xvi.: how the laws of domestic slavery have a relation to the nature of the climate. > chap. III.: that a plurality of wives greatly depends on the means of supporting them.
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The Complete Works of Montesquieu. Electronic Edition.
cover
Volume I.
Body
BOOK XVI.: HOW THE LAWS OF DOMESTIC SLAVERY HAVE A RELATION TO THE NATURE OF THE CLIMATE.
CHAP. III.: That a Plurality of Wives greatly depends on the Means of supporting them.

CHAP. III.: That a Plurality of Wives greatly depends on the Means of supporting them.

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

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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†566 climates they have few wants, and it costs little to maintain a wife and children; they may, therefore, have a great number of wives.