SOCIAL LIFE. 305 



came to inquire closely as to where they obtained liquor, 

 I found that almost any common warrior of the band 

 would sell his wife for a night for a bottle of whisky, and 

 that citizens and soldiers were in the habit almost nightly 

 of paying this price. 



In this band one of the duties of hospitality was to 

 furnish a wife to a guest whom the host wished specially 

 to honour. A citizen physician, employed by the Govern- 

 ment to act as assistant surgeon, was stationed at a military 

 post at which the Sioux frequently visit. The doctor had 

 a charming and lovely wife, without the slightest dispo- 

 sition to flirt ; but he, being a gay individual, extremely 

 devoted to the sex, was correspondingly jealous lest his 

 wife might imitate his example. Spotted Tail came on a 

 visit to the post, and the doctor was specially attentive 

 and hospitable to the Indian chief. One night, the doctor 

 and Spotted Tail came into a room in which were 

 assembled several officers. The doctor was jocose, full of 

 fun, rallying the Indian on their manners and customs, on 

 his having several wives, &c. Spotted Tail stood it for 

 some time. At last he said, ' Doctor, you come to my 

 camp, I give you plenty to eat, good bed, and wife to 

 sleep with. I have been in your camp three days, and 

 you no say wife to me once.' It is impossible to describe 

 the horror depicted in the doctor's face. He soon made 

 an excuse to leave, and his close intimacy with Spotted 

 Tail was at least suspended. 



The sale of a wife is not unusual. The Indians are 

 very fond of children, and anxious to have as many as 

 possible. Should the wife not bear a child within a 

 reasonable time she is almost sure to be sold ; and if she 

 remains barren she is not unlikely to be passed from hand 

 to hand by sale and purchase, until she either has a child 

 or is too old for further sale. In transferring a wife by 

 sale the husband generally keeps the children, if there be 

 any (though I have heard of cases where the wife and 

 children were sold together). The possibility of separa- 



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