96 EXPEDITION TO THE 



Among the Potawatomis polygamy is not only allowed, 

 but even encouraged ; a man has two or more wives, some- 

 times four, according to his skill and success as a hunter. 

 The number of wives which an Indian keeps, is equal to 

 that which he can support and maintain ; he, therefore, that 

 has many, is respected as being abetter or a more favoured 

 hunter than he that has but one wife. Dr. Hall observes that 

 polygamy exists in the proportion of twenty-five per cent, 

 that some men have three, four, or five wives, and one 

 man was known to have eight. They appear to be very 

 attentive to the proper education to be given to chil- 

 dren, in order to impart to them those qualities both of the 

 mind and body, which shall enable them to endure fatigue 

 and privation, and to obtain an influence, either in the 

 counsels of the nation, or during their military operations. 

 When questioned on this subject, Metea replied, that while 

 he was yet very young, his father began to instruct him, 

 and incessantly, day after day, and night after night, taught 

 him the traditions, the laws and ceremonies of his nation. 

 "This he did," said Metea, "that I might one day benefit 

 my country with my counsel." The education of boys 

 generally commences at ten or twelve years of age ; they 

 accustom them early to the endurance of cold, by making 

 them bathe every morning in winter. They likewise encour- 

 age them to habituate themselves to the privation of food. 

 In this manner, children are observed to acquire, more 

 readily, the qualifications which it is desirable for an Indian 

 to possess. Parents use no compulsory means to reduce 

 their children to obedience, but they generally succeed in 

 obtaining a powerful influence over them, by acting upon 

 their fears; they tell them that if they do not behave them- 

 selves as they are bid, that they will irritate the Great Spirit, 

 who will deprive them of ajl luck as hunters, and as war- 



