30 INDIAN S. 



this practice in these cases of half marriage prevails universally. 

 As soon as a man goes to the house of his bride, he is in com- 

 plete possession of her, till the ceremony ends; and during this 

 period the exception will apply. 



Marriage gives no right to the husband over the property 

 of his wife ; and when they part, she keeps the children and 

 property belonging to them. 



Adultery. — This is punished by the family or tribe of the 

 husband. They collect, consult, and decree. If the proof is 

 clear, and they determine to punish the offenders, they divide 

 and proceed to apprehend them. One half goes to the house 

 of the woman, the remainder to the family house of the 

 adulterer; or they go together, as they have decreed. They 

 apprehend the offenders, beat them severely with sticks, and 

 then crop them. They cut off the hair of the woman, which 

 they carry to the square in triumph. If they apprehend but 

 one of the offenders and the other escapes, they then go and 

 take satisfaction from the nearest relation. If both the offen- 

 ders escape, and the tribe or family return home and lay 

 down the sticks, the crime is satisfied. There is one family 

 only, the " Wind," (Ho-tul-ul-gee,) that can take up the sticks 

 a second time. This crime is satisfied in another way, if the 

 parties offending absent themselves till the Boos-ke-tau is 

 over. Then all crimes are done away except murder. And 

 the bare mention of them, or any occurrence which brings 

 them in recollection, is forbidden. 



Murder. — If murder is committed, the family and tribe 

 alone have the right of taking satisfaction. They collect, consult 

 and decide. The rules of the town, or the nation, have nothing 

 to do or to say in the business. The relations of the murdered 

 person consult first among themselves, and if the case is clear, 

 and their family or tribe are not likely to suffer by their deci- 

 sion, they determine on the case definitively. When the tribe 

 may be aflfected by it, in a doubtful case, or an old claim for 

 satisfaction, the family then consult with their tribe ; and 

 when they have deliberated and resolved on satisfaction, they 

 take the guilty one, if to be come at. If he flies, they take 

 the nearest of kin, or one of the family. In some cases, the 

 family which has done the injury promise reparation ; and in 



