Blair Collection > Critical dissertations on the origin, antiquities, language, government, manners, and religion, of the antient Caledonians, their posterity the Picts, and the British and Irish Scots

240 Hiftory of the Norwegian
laws X. We have therefore reafon to believe, th^t?
the SiiioneSj ^Jlii^ Cimhri^ Tentones^ and other*
nations, of whom the Normans and Eafterlings of'
after-ages mufl liave been defcended, had not a
plurality of wives in his time; and it does not
appear from good authority that polygfimy be-
came falhionable among the pofterity of thefe
nations, in the period intervening between the time
of Tacitus and the introdudion of chriftianity.
But even allowing, without any neceility, that
polygamy was common in Scandinavia, ftill it iS
doubtful, from the hiftory of nations who give inta
that cuftom, whether a plurality of wives increafe
population or not. As the males of Scandinavia
were always engaged in war at fea, there is indeed
reafon to believe that the accidents from enemies^
and thofe arifing from a rude navigation, carried
off a greater proportion of them than of the males
of any other nation ; and therefore it may be fup-
pofed that a greater number of v/omen fell to the
furvivors. But, when we confider that the women
of the North always attended their hufbands and
frie.ds in their expeditions, we mull allow that
they were fubjed to the fame accidents with the
males. In this v/ay therefore it is irnpoflible to
account how the Northern Europe could cover the
Southern divifions of it with fuch deluges of bar-
barous adventurers.
The old Norwegians and Swedes, before tiie'r
converfion to Chriflianity, were addided to piracy,
and elteemed it a glorious occupation. The wild
\ Severs illic' matrimonia, nee ullam morum parfem magii
i'.udaveils : nn.m prope loli burbaroriim inigulis uxoribus con-tenri
luKt, e.-ccepri-s aJmodum piucis. Titcit. dt raor. Germ.
tribes