Kinship, Descent and Alliance among the Karo Batak

The topic of this monograph is kinship and affinal relations among the Karo Batak. My reason for selecting this topic is my belief that an understanding of the Karo system of social relations between kin and relatives by marriage is the necessary starting point for an understanding of most other aspects of Karo culture and society. Moreover, the Karo kinship system is similar to the kinship systems of numerous other peoples—including other Batak—which have become the focus of considerable a...