332 IXDIAXS. 



It is impossible to say what the amusements of the 

 Indian women are, but it is a fact that they appear very 

 contented, cheerful, and happy. 



Where no one can commit a moral wrong, there is, of 

 course, no opportunity to talk scandal. Mr. Chain 

 Lightning can take to his bosom the spouse of Mr. 

 Scarface without causing even a ripple of remark from 

 male or female. I have heard that the gentle sex holds 

 in great contempt a woman who fails to do everything 

 possible for her husband. I have never seen any such 

 thing. Of the several wives of the same man, one may 

 be an excellent worker, another lazy and worthless, 

 another have one or more slits in her nose, but all seem 

 to get along perfectly with each other and with the other 

 women of the band. 



Officers have described to me the squaw fights of the 

 Indians of the Pacific Coast, in which every woman of the 

 band was engaged, while the men stood by enjoying 

 the spectacle. I have not only never seen, but never 

 heard of, a fight between two plains Indian squaws. In 

 fact, the Indians seem to herd together exactly as do the 

 buffalo, amicably, each one doing as he pleases without 

 molesting or being molested by others. Two bulls may 

 fight over a cow, or the cow may exercise her natural 

 right of selection, but the affair possesses not the slightest 

 possible interest to any but those engaged. 



The little girls are very fond of dolls, and of playing 

 baby-house, and the mothers take great pains and show- 

 considerable skill arid taste in making and dressing the 

 puppets. 



SINGING AND DANCING. 



The singing of the Indian consists in the monotonous 

 repetition of a few half-guttural, half-nasal sounds (notes 

 they can scarcely be called, as they form no music), varied 

 by an occasional yell. Whatever the occasion, the ' song ' 

 is the same, however varied the accompaniment. 



