DEMO] THE ASSIXIBOIN 505 



not infrequently by death. Among the Blackfeet the noses of the 

 women are cut off for this offense; others stab, strike, or kill as it 

 happens. Women are not interfered with by the men in their man- 

 agement of household affairs. Such interference would excite too 

 much ridicule for their pride. 



Are the labors of husband and wife equally divided? The occupa- 

 tions of the man are as follows: Setting aside that of war which 

 he occasionally follows after having a family, though not often, 

 he is obliged to keep the family in meat and skins, and this occupies 

 about one-third of his time. He makes his own bows and arrows, 

 snowshoes, powder horns, and all implements of war and the chase, 

 not purchased. He furnishes horses, either by war, bargains, or 

 other means; collects, waters, and guards his horses; makes traps 

 for wolves and foxes and kills and skins them; attends councils, 

 feasts, and ceremonies; protects his family from insult and injury, 

 and risks his life for them in hunting in different ways; all of which 

 should be taken into consideration as forming a portion of his time 

 and labor. 



Sometimes his women will accompany him to the hunt and aid 

 in skinning and butchering the animal, but this is only when the 

 buffalo are near the camp. She never participates in his labors on 

 other occasions. The usual occupations of the women are, to prepare 

 the skins and dress them, which is a tedious and laborious operation; 

 to cut up the meat in thin slices and dry it ; to make all the clothing 

 for the family, make lodges, cook, take care of their children and 

 dogs, bring wood and water, pack and unpack animals, erect the 

 tents, strike them, arrange the interior, carry burdens in traveling, 

 render grease, pound meat, work at garnishing with beads and 

 porcupine quills, make dogs travaflles, saddle and unsaddle the mas- 

 ter's horse, etc. In nations where canoes are used, the men make the 

 frame and the women sew and stitch over it the bark or skin. Men 

 make the paddles, pans, bowls, cradles, and pipes. This is among 

 the Cree and Chippewa. With those who plant, the labor of hoeing, 

 planting, gathering, drying, and shelling the corn is all done by the 

 women and children : but with these less hunting is done. 



Owing to the length of time required to scrape, stretch, dry, dress, 

 and smoke even one skin it will be seen that the labor of the woman 

 is much greater than that of the man, and she must have help or 

 she could not attend to the domestic affairs of a large family. 



A surplus of dressed skins is also necessary to buy the supplies they 

 can not and do not make and to replace stolen or crippled horses. 

 Thus an Indian with but one wife can not amass property, as the 

 whole of her time would be employed in the absolute requisite domes- 

 tic labors without being able to collect any skins for trade. 



8S253°— 30 33 



