16 HUGO BIED'S ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS 



the women they expressed a conviction of being cheated 

 by their husbands, declaring it strange that with the sole 

 exception of the youngest husband, nothing was ever 

 killed. At the same time to find out the truth, they 

 agreed that the youngest should remain at home the fol- 

 lowing day under pretence of toothache and watch the 

 return of the party. Next day the men as usual took 

 their bows and arrows and set forth. The six sisters then 

 departed, leaving the other hidden among flags and 

 rushes at the back of the house, in such a position as to 

 command a view of everything transacted within. Sev- 

 eral hours before sunset the hunting party returned laden 

 with rabbits, which they commenced roasting and eating, 

 with the exception of one which the youngest put apart. 

 The others called him a fool, telling him to eat the rabbit, 

 which, however, he refused to do, saying he esteemed his 

 wife a little and always intended to reserve one for her. 

 " More fool you," said the others, " we care more for our- 

 selves than for them." The feast concluded, the bones 

 were carefully gathered together and concealed in a suit- 

 able place outside. After some time, the youngest wife 

 arose and presented herself in the hut, to the surprise of 

 the males, who asked her where she came from? "I have 

 been asleep at the back of the house," answered she, "and 

 I have only this minute awoke, having had to remain be- 

 hind from toothache." After a while the women came 

 home, who ran to their sister asking for her health. 

 They soon found an opportunity to leave the hut and learn 

 the results of the espionage, besides visiting the place 

 where the bones were deposited. They cried very much 

 and talked over what they should do. " Let us turn to 

 water," said the eldest. This was objected to by all the 

 rest, saying that their husbands would then drink them, 

 which would never do. The second proposed that they 



