390 WAGER or BATTLE. 



upon whose finger a ring is put by the interpreter ; 

 the ceremony is then complete, and is held as 

 indissoluble. Separation seldom occurs unless the 

 wife becomes recklessly abandoned, which is a rare 

 circumstance ; the men are very jealous, and are 

 liable to retaliate revengefully upon their offending 

 brothers. Weddings generally take place in the 

 fall of the year about the time of goose-hunting, and 

 the happy couple immediately repair to the marshes 

 to spend the honeymoon. The husband generally 

 receives a present of ammunition and hastens to pro- 

 cure a stock of geese with which he feasts his friends. 

 Two young Indian women were observed some 

 years ago in violent conflict ; they were parted, but 

 intreated to be permitted to decide the contest as 

 they would then be friends again; this request, 

 appearing reasonable, was acceded to, the bystanders 

 taking care that there should be fair play. After 

 a lengthened and determined struggle the weakest 

 succumbed to the superior proAvess of her fortunate 

 adversary. * It appeared that these girls were in love 

 with the same man, and had self-instituted this mode 

 of deciding their claims. No wonder they fought 

 like wild cats. The defeated damsel was so much 

 enraged at her disappointment that slie soon after- 

 wards shot her rival dead. 



