Definition:
A unilineal descent group composed of two or more clans is called a phratry.
The word phratry is an English term; the member clans may feel that they have particularly close ties with the other clan or clans of the phratry.
Distribution:
Phratries occur in a few societies. They occur among the horticultural societies like those of Hopi , Navaho and some other Red Indian tribes of united states, hunters and shifting cultivators like the Muria Gonds of Madhya Pradesh , simple agriculturists like the Rabhas of Assam, the AO Nagas of Nagaland and the Raj Gonds of Adilabad in Andhra Pradesh.
Types:
Like lineages and clans, phratries also occur in the form of patri phratries and matriphratries. Patrilineal societies like the Muria, AoNaga, Rabhas and Raj Gonds have patriphraties but matrilineal societies like Hopi, Navaeo and some other Red Indians have Matriphratries.
How many phratries are there in a society? Among the patrilineal societies, Rabhas have two phratries, Muria have five, Raj Gonds have four but AO Nagas have several phratries. Among the matrilineal societies, Hopi Red Indians have nine phratries and Crow Red Indians have six phratries.
Attributes:
- Name: The phratries among the Hopi Red Indians have no names but those among the Crow Red Indians have names. The Raj Gonds of Adilabad have four phratries namely Yerwen saga (Seven brother phratry) , Sarwen Saga (six-brother phratry) , Sewen saga (Five-brother phratry) and Nalwen saga (Fopur-brother phratry)
- Exogamy or Agamy: A phratry may be or may not be exogamous. Among the Hopis and Murias phratries are exogamous but among the Crow Red Indians four of the nameless phratries are agamous. Among the Hopi , members of one clan do not marry members of the other clans within the phratry.
- Common religious obligations: A phratry may have common religious obligations. Hopi phratries observe common religious rituals. Aztec phratries were significant polities and Religious groups. They served as a basis for common ceremonial activity. But strong phratries are exceptions. The Haida of the North west Coast of Canada have two main phratries that are sub-divided into a large number of clans. Each has its own identifying totemic emblem: the Raven phratry has the killer whale as its emblem, and the Eagle phratry the eagle. Phratry members have the right to exclusive use of their emblems on Material belongings – their houses, boats, utensils, hats and so forth. Members of both phratries may live within a settlement.
- Political life: A phratry. May serve as an important political unit. Among the Aztecs of Mexico, phratries were important political units in the structure of empire.
- Totemism: Among the – Marias the phratries are totemic. Those of Bakravans or Goat phratry do not eat goat’s meat. Those of Kachhimvans or Tortoise phratry avoid eating the tortoise and worship it. Members of Sori or Tiger phratry refuse to kill a tiger Members of Nagavans or serpent phratry conduct cobra worship on special occasions.
- Solidarity: A phratry has solidarity, The clans in each phratry retain their separate identities but each clan feels some sort of special affinity within the phratry. Thus the phratry acts as a solid group on many occasions.