ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the high rate of preferential marriages greatly increased the number of social ties between individuals in a neighbourhood, and brought a renewal of ties with distant kin. Preferential marriage's importance for the kinship system lies in its giving significance to the distinction between kin and non-kin and in keeping kinsfolk together without either localization of kinship groups or villages with strong headmen. The preference for kinship marriage is not a limiting factor on marriage in the way that a rule of endogamy is, since a number of marriages occur with non-kinswomen. The chapter examines various aspects of the relationship between husband and wife. The tie of a man with his wife's siblings, particularly when they are children, is significant for the domestic organization of households. The chapter emphasizes the factors which strengthen the conjugal bond. The conjugal bond is the closest social relation that can exist between adults.
