J. Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur's "Letters from an American Farmer"

subsistence

Definition of subsistence (n)

1a(1)real being EXISTENCE
(2)the condition of remaining in existence CONTINUATIONPERSISTENCE
ban essential characteristic quality of something that exists
cthe character possessed by whatever is logically conceivable
2means of subsisting: such as
athe minimum (as of food and shelter) necessary to support life
ba source or means of obtaining the necessities of life

Note: There's not enough women for men to marry, thus they have to travel abroad to find wives.

Source