VOL: 1.] Customs of the Coyotero Apaches. 163 
since the enlistment of the Indians as scouts, they are losing a little 
of this timidity. 
Marriage is, as usual among savages, by purchase of the wife. 
If the prospective husband is not possessed of the amount demand- 
ed, his friends often assist him to raise the required sum; even the 
whites have been sometimes appealed to for help. During court- 
ship the mother is a prominent figure, but after the marriage is con- 
cluded she is completely tabooed by the son-in-law. He never 
speaks to her nor enters her house, and she will neither intrude nor 
even look upon him, though she may look after his children or send 
him food or other assistance. A ludicrous example of this preju- 
dice was given a short time ago, Last Christmas the officers of the 
scouts gave them a dinner, inviting also their families, but as the 
men were unable to appear where their mothers-in-law were, the 
guests were principally women and children. Both sexes look after 
aged mothers, but neither for mothers-in law. 
Female chastity is highly regarded, and a man finding his wife 
not to be a virgin, may discard her and demand back her purchase 
price. Adultery was formerly punished by cutting off the nose, the 
relatives of the husband performing the operation. This is now sel- 
dom done, the woman being simply chastised and discarded. Un- 
married girls have their hair bound in the back by an oblong piece 
of leather, bound with some bright color and studded with brass 
buttons. It is a very showy and glittering ornament, covering as it 
does the greater part of the back of the head, but it is discarded at 
marriage and the hair worn free. For hair brushes the roots ot 
yuccas and of a coarse species of grass are used. They are made 
by doubling a bunch in the middle, and tying, the ends meeting and 
of the same length. Asa brush it is rather coarse, but so is their 
long thick hair. The hair is cut by putting under it a bow or suit- 
able piece of wood, then with a sharp knife cutting it square off. 
This is the way with nearly all the Indians of the United States. 
The exceptions are those under missionary influence, who have 
their hair cut short all over, as a sign of Christianity, and a few. 
tribes who roach it. 
Polygamy is practiced, and the wives are often of different ages, 
sometimes no more than eight years old. Sometimes they are all 
‘sisters. There are no favorites, and in their frequent quarrels the 
man takes no part. Should one leave him, as sometimes —— : 
