298 INDIANS. 



the affairs of the tribe, and, though not permitted even to 

 enter the council lodge, they are very frequently the 

 ' power behind the throne,' directing and guiding almost 

 without knowing it themselves. 



The husband owns his wife entirely. He may abuse 

 her, beat her, even kill her without question. But if 

 moderately good-looking, or having a fair reputation as 

 a worker, she has a sure remedy against all conjugal ills 

 in being able to leave him for any other man who will 

 take her and pay for her. The transfer of devotion and 

 allegiance of women to other men than their rightful 

 owners is not at all an unusual occurrence among the 

 plains Indians. It may come from ill- treatment on the 

 part of the husband, or from what would be termed in 

 civilised society a regular elopement or seduction. 



A man takes a fancy to another man's wife. He 

 makes his advances, is met by encouragement, and, after 

 a siege more or less protracted, wins her. The husband 

 wakes up some morning to find his wife gone. He searches 

 for her through the encampment, and finds her in another 

 man"s lodge, going about her avocations as if at home, 

 and he is informed that she has become the wife of that 

 other man. The bereaved husband goes at once to the 

 chief and states his grievance. One or two prominent 

 warriors are called in. They examine into the case and 

 assess the damage, somewhat in accordance with the cir- 

 cumstances, but more usually with reference to the ability 

 of the new husband to pay. Whatever forfeit is decided 

 upon by the chief and his advisers must be paid at once. 

 This being done the affair is over. There is seldom any 

 wrangling or fighting, and in every case, forfeit or none, 

 the woman is permitted to remain with the man of her 

 choice. 



Few persons have been in the Indian territory who 

 have not heard of ' Romeo,' a Mexican Cheyenne half- 

 breed, an excellent guide and interpreter. His mother 

 was a Cheyenne Indian. He was brought up with that 



