314 INDIANS. 



them. In most lodges the children are not more plenti- 

 ful than women. 



Parturition seems to be a matter of scarcely more 

 concern to the woman than to the buffalo-cow. With the 

 first child she may, or not, have a woman to attend her; 

 but, if she be ordinarily healthy and well developed, she 

 usually does everything for herself. I have been told 

 that in good weather they prefer to go off alone to some 

 retired place in the woods or brush. The whole affair is 

 a matter of an hour or two, and when the child is two or 

 three hours old the mother is most likely at her usual 

 avocations. 



Once when on a scout I met a small party of Indians 

 who stopped and chatted for a few moments. The chief 

 asked me where I was going, and, finding that my route 

 took me on his trail, he informed me that one of his 

 wives had stopped a short distance back to have a baby, 

 and requested me not to permit any of my men to molest 

 her. Proceeding about three miles we met the woman 

 alone, riding quietly along the trail, the baby strapped in its 

 cradle on her back. 



While the child, either boy or girl, is very young, 

 the mother has entire charge, control, and management 

 of it. It is very soon taught not to cry, by a very sum- 

 mary, if not gentle, process. Its mouth is covered with 

 the palm of the hand, while its nose is grasped between 

 the thumb and forefinger until the little one is nearly 

 suffocated. It is then let go, to be seized and smothered 

 again at the first attempt to cry. The baby very soon 

 learns that silence is its best policy. 



Almost as soon as the male child is weaned the con- 

 trol is taken from the mother, and it becomes practically 

 its own master. The mother is never permitted to punish 

 a boy, no matter what its fault. She, however, retains 

 her control over the girls until they are married, and 

 whatever comfort she derives from her children is from 

 them. The maternal instinct does not appear to be very 



