124 POLYGAlVrY. 



terms. If these prove agreeable to the suitor, he immediately accepts 

 Uiem, and the twain " become one flesh " without further ceremony. 



In case the woman has no father, her eldest brother fills his place, — and 

 if she have neither father nor brother, her next nearest relative assumes 

 the responsibility of bestowing her in marriage. 



If she be the eldest daughter, and has unmarried sisters, the bridegroom 

 becomes equally entitled to them, and is looked upon as their common hus- 

 band. 



The first year succeeding this new relation, the bride's family consider 

 all the horses and other valuables of the new-made husband as their own; 

 the second year he is permitted to retain his personal property for the use 

 of himself and wife ; — but the third year he enjoys an equal right with his 

 relatives to everything in their possession. 



The decision of parents in the bestowment of a daughter in marriage is 

 generally controlled by the largeness of the amount offered ; thus showing 

 that civilized lile is not the only condition in which individuals are some- 

 times governed by sordid motives in pronouncing upon questions of such 

 vital importance to the welfare of others. 



The female is the only party upon whom the marriage contract is con- 

 sidered binding. 



The man may sunder it at any time suiting his convenience or caprice. 

 He has the power, even, to dispose of his wife to another, or, at a mere 

 word, to absolve himself from all obligation to her. In case of the latter, 

 the discarded one returns to her father's lodge, — ready again to test the re- 

 alities of this uncertain relationship, whenever an opportunity presents it- 

 self meeting with tiie approval of those who assume to make barter of 

 her aflections and person. 



A woman, to be happy in this state of society, should never indulge in 

 that fancied passion, pictured in such glowing colors by crack-brained 

 poets and novel-writers, called love ; — or, if she has the assurance to do 

 otherwise, it should be of that more versatile and acconnnodating order, so 

 often exhibited in more refined circles, which may be reclaimed and trans- 

 ferred as interest or circumstances suggest. Her atTections are not at her 

 own disposal, and, to render life tolerable, she must learn to love only as 

 she is loved, and to love herself above ali others. 



Next to horses, women constitute an Indian's chief wealth. This cir- 

 cumstance not urifrequently results in one individual appropriating to 

 himself six or eight. 



Tlie squaw is compelled to dress robes and skins, make moccasins, 

 cure and take care of meat, attend to the horses, procure fire-wood, and 

 perform sundry other little drudgeries that an Indian will not do. 

 Through her he becomes possessed of the means of procuring from the 

 whites such articles as his necessities or fancy may require. A plurality 

 of wives with him, therefore, is more a matter of economy than other- 

 wise. 



