DBNIG] 



THE ASSINIBOIN 507 



supposed to exist among savages. The loss of youth and youthful 

 attractions is not a cause of neglect, particularly if the woman has 

 children hy her husband. An Indian seldom exhibits any ill feeling 

 toward his fjrst wife, but on the contrary depends upon her to employ 

 and manage the others. In this and all the domestic labors she 

 is the principal and is addressed as such and possesses more influence 

 over the man at middle age than ever or than any of the others. 

 No doubt the youngest is a more attractive but not so useful an 

 inmate, and gain is the principal object of the master. Wives are 

 even more valuable in extreme age than parents, though but few 

 live a great length of time. Their labors are too severe. Men of 

 family are not very amorous; they study their interest. Children 

 give the wife great additional power over the husband, so much so 

 that even if afterwards they prove unfaithful or very obstinate they 

 are punished but retained, whereas without offspring they would 

 be cast off for the same offenses. The first wife, though not neces- 

 sarily, nor always, the eldest, retains the preference, as has been 

 stated; she is the domestic councillor. 



The jealousies arising among the women are only occasional bick- 

 erings in the absence of the master, who if he perceives anything of 

 the kind going on or anything else to mar his peace soon settles it 

 by the argument of the tomahawk. Men of family are dignified, use 

 great forbearance toward those under their charge, and consider it as 

 disgraceful to be engaged in quarrels and squabbles with women, 

 seldom interfere or abuse them, never strike their children, but evince 

 a determination to see their home rendered pleasant and agreeable. 

 Young women are vain, fond of dress, yet this is no source of discord. 

 Fine dress is not sought eagerly by women of middle age. More 

 frequently they take a pride in dressing the youngest wife, or their 

 children, if any, even at their own expense, which greatly pleases the 

 master and induces him to flatter them otherwise for this mark of 

 respect. 



There is order enough preserved in every Indian lodge to suit their 

 mode of life and with a delicacy toward guests that would merit 

 imitation elsewhere. If a child cries during conversation it is taken 

 out. Boys and young men keep their mouths shut when the masters 

 speak. They do not contradict, abuse, or interrupt. All have their 

 places for sitting and sleeping, at the head of which, if men, are 

 placed their arms and accouterments; if women, their sewing, gar- 

 nishing, etc. These places are arranged by the eldest wife or by the 

 grandmother as soon as the lodge is erected by spreading skins on the 

 ground, and are uniformly the same in the same family. They can 

 be and are changed whenever the necessities of the men require it, 

 though the individual's local privileges are not thereby disturbed. 



