THE PUNISHMENT OF INCONSTANCY. 233 



Q. To what age do females continue to 

 bear children, and how long do they suckle 

 them ? 



A. (Anderson.) Probably from 40 to 46. It 

 is hard to arrive at the ages of Indians, male or 

 female. 2nd. Sometimes from two till three 

 years. 



Q. Is chastity cultivated or defective? 



A. (Anderson.) Among the interior tribes 

 chastity is a virtue. Among the fish-eaters of the 

 north-west coast it has no meaning, or if it has it 

 appears to be utterly disregarded. 



A. (Tolmie.*) Amongst the interior tribes, 

 in primitive times, breaches of chastity on the 

 part either of married or unmarried females were 

 often punished with death, inflicted either by 

 the brother or husband. Amongst the fish- 

 eating tribes of the rivers and coast chastity was 

 less esteemed. A vast deterioration in this re- 

 spect has taken place amongst all the Indian 

 tribes since the influx of whites amongst them. 



Q. What are the ceremonies and practices 

 connected with marriage? 



A. (Anderson. ) Interchange of presents chiefly 

 and a purchase-money accruing to the father of 

 the bride. Among certain tribes a kind of ap- 



