48 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 34 



the Navaho and some of the other Indian tribes visited. It is not 

 rare to find in the tribe unmarried men and women more than 1 8 and 

 even 20 years of age. Polygamy, though infrequent, is still met with. 

 Leaving or changing wives or husbands is not uncommon, especially 

 among the Wiminuche. Sexual morality in general in 1900, at the 

 time of the writer's visit to the tribe, was of a rather low order. 



Among most of the Apache the event of a girl reaching puberty is 

 an occasion for a feast which her parents give, announcing her arrival 

 at womanhood.'* According to statements made to the writer by 

 men of the tribe, only a few girls attain the age of 16 years or more 

 without marrying; he saw, however, two girls not yet married, each 

 of whom was surely more than 18. 



Among the Apache as well as among the Navaho the girl is given 

 to a husband after he has. made gifts of horses and blankets to her 

 family,'' but the woman is not bought as a passive chattel. Among 

 the White Mountain Apache the accepted young man is allowed to 

 live sexually with his prospective wife for some time before marriage " 

 takes place, and they can separate if not mutually satisfied. The final 

 marriage is very simple. 



It is not rare for a young man to marry a rather old woman. The 

 writer witnessed one such instance as late as 1 905. The explanation 

 given of this is that on the one side the woman secures a young, 

 strong man to work the fields, while on the other side the woman is 

 usually one having a daughter approaching maturity, who also in the 

 course of time becomes the man's wife (or concubine). 



a Among the White Moiuitain people the first appearance of menses is celebrated by an all-daj' feast 

 in which friends are called to participate. They kill a cow and have "lots of coflee and bread," and 

 beat the drizm the whole day. The first menstruation day is a fortunate day, and the people pray 

 that all may be well with the girl, and that she may become a good and healthy woman and a good 

 mother. They also pray for general plenty. Although the feast serves as a notice that the girl has 

 become a woman, marriage may not be arranged until much later. The San Carlos Apache no longer 

 observe the feast. 



* Marriages among the Apache are now often the result of mutual lilting. The exceptions are mostly 

 in the case of old men who secure wives much younger, or young men married by older women. By 

 some of the old people the girl is given less choice than by others more decidedly affected by modern 

 views, the marriage arrangement in such cases being principally the affair of the parents. The father 

 and mother of the girl are approached by the parents of the boy, and there are four talks concerning 

 the marriage, after which a decision is given. The husband to be must furnish a number of horses, 

 cows, saddles, blankets, buckskins, and other things of value, which are, or should be, divided 

 among the bride's relatives. In return the people of the bride are expected to supply certain things 

 of value for the bridegroom's relatives. By this arrangement both parties are often in the end nearly 

 even; but there is opportunity for the exercise of sclflshness or greed. 



c The marriage is arranged by intermediaries who are usually old men. These go to the house of the 

 girl's parents and arrange the barter. When this is concluded, the l>ridegroom is at liberty to come 

 every night to the wife's camp, or she to his, until a khuva (typical native hut, pi. u,c) is built by the 

 girl. If both parties are content, then the marriage is considered as concluded. If not, they may sep- 

 arate, the articles given are mutually returned, and their relations are at an end. 



Among the Jicarillas marriage takes place in the following mannei : A young man desiring to marry 

 a certain girl goes to her father and makes arrangements for obtaining her. If everything is satisfac- 

 tory, he buys cloth for a tipi, a supply of caUco, and whatever is needed for housekeeping. He takes 

 these to the house of the girl's parents. With the assistance of her mother and perhaps her sister, the 

 girl makes up the cloth into a tipi and the cahco into dresses. When all is ready, the tipi is set up 

 and without further ceremony the bridegroom joins his bride in their new home. The relatives of 

 the girl receive but little compensation, 



