100 CONDITION OF THE WOMEN. 



community ; she delivers to the several female 

 inmates their portions of skins to be cleaned or 

 dressed, and other such work as may be required : 

 I am of course, in this extended view of her duties, 

 considering only the condition of the wealthier 

 personages, who generally show great order and 

 neatness in their arrangements. Many men have 

 only one wife, and few more than two. If the 

 chief or favourite wife has a«y children, they 

 occupy the same apartment with herself and lord ; 

 but the families of other wives reside with theii* 

 mothers in separate places, which are allotted for 

 their sole use ; and it is, I imagine, generally con- 

 sidered the duty of the man to afford a home and 

 sustenance to those wives who have been put aside for 

 some new favourite, as well as to the children by 

 them ; but repudiation is perfectly recognised ; and 

 in instances of misconduct, and sometimes of dislike, 

 put in force without scruple or censm-e. In these 

 cases the rejected wife retm-ns to her father's or 

 brother's lodge, and, unless a very bad character, 

 does not generally wait long for another husband ; 

 very often, however, returning to her original spouse — 

 to be perhaps again discarded. Each man has as 

 many wives as he can afford to keep, the question of 

 food being the greatest consideration. One wealthy 



