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Originally published in 1885, this book by William Robertson Smith examines the history of marriage and kinship relations within tribal groups in Arabia at the beginning of Islam. The text explains the intricate links of heredity and dependence among various groups based on male descent, as well as taking an interesting look at the practice of polyandry in various groups. Highly influential in its own day as well as later, this book will be of use to anyone interested in anthropology and the state of Arabic tribal groups in the time of Mohammed.