DHNIO] THE ASSINIBOIN 455 



nation. In all the regulations of these Indians (the Crows) we can 

 discern great natural goodness of heart, and absence of any useless 

 barbarity and bloodshed except with regard to their enemies, the 

 males of whom they kill and cut to pieces, but never kill women and 

 children, whereas the Assiniboin, Sioux, and Blackfeet kdl every- 

 thing. Very few feuds from polygamy result in death, but should it 

 so happen the other would be punished. If the favorite wife had been 

 killed, the least the other wife expected would be a tomahawking, 

 or an arrow shot into her, perfectly regardless as to whether death 

 would be the consequence or not. Women among Indians are bought, 

 paid for, and are the property of the purchaser the same as his 

 horses. Their liyes are of course more valuable than those of 

 animals, and every Indian regrets the loss of his woman. Yet when 

 he has bought them he expects them to do their duty, not quarrel nor 

 render his lodge disagreeable, or if so they must expect to be severely 

 punished. 



Their lives are not, however, considered as valuable as men, nor 

 are they ever so much mourned for. When not bought, or unmarried, 

 the killing of a woman never happens and would be a great disgrace 

 to any man, though after marriage they are subject to the penalty of 

 death from different causes in which the man thinks he is justified. 



Private debts are never settled by the chief, nor private disputes 

 by council. Advice may be given and taken, frequently is, though 

 the usual mode of settling trivial quarrels is by payment, and an 

 invitation to a feast. Everything except loss of life or personal 

 chastisement can be paid for among these Indians. 



Game Laws, or Rights of the Chase. — The roving tribes subsist 

 by hunting buffalo, and these animals being constantly on the move, 

 they are obliged to move after them. Therefore no particular section 

 of country is appointed to each as a hunting district. 12 There are, 

 however, certain regulations with regard to the hunting of these ani- 

 mals which may a^ well be recorded here. A lodge or a few lodges 

 have no right to establish and hunt within 6, 8, or 10 miles from 

 a large camp, as by this the buffalo would be continually kept out 

 of the range of the latter, and a few people be the cause of distress 

 and starvation to the many. Therefore these obstructions are re- 

 moved by the soldiers. When hunting by surround has been agreed 

 upon, individual hunting is stopped for the same reason, and has met 

 with explanation. This is also the duty of the soldiers. Hunting 

 deer, elk, beaver, etc., being of little consequence to these Indians, 

 each one exercises his pleasure in regard to these occupations. No 

 right to any section of country is claimed by any person to the ex- 



12 The statement here militates against any claim of private ownership of hunting 

 grounds among these tribes. 



