denio] THE ASSINTBOm 511 



is seldom rejected, though refusals are given on other grounds, such 

 as old family feuds, or inability on the part of the applicant as a 

 hunter or warrior. There is no tradition of the institution of mar- 

 riage. It is a bargain and looked upon in this light by both parties, 

 not merely a contract of sale, but one of amity, friendship, and 

 mutual support of all related and concerned. Courtships and pres- 

 ents are only resorted to when the possession of the girl is aimed at 

 without the consent of the parents. Otherwise the consent of the 

 girl is not necessary, she being obliged to obey the wishes of her 

 parents. 



Neither the priests nor doctors nor any one else is consulted on 

 these occasions, except the nearest relatives, and the negotiator is 

 some man of standing or relation of the applicant. There is no 

 parade or ceremony on the occasion nor are any gifts made by the 

 mother-in-law to her daughter. On the contrary the son-in-law is 

 regarded as their property. All he has and does is for years to the 

 advantage of his wife's parents. The most of the meat and skins 

 killed by him are carried to her parents by her until she has a child 

 and her husband commences working for himself. The foregoing 

 is the marriage of a young man with a young woman. The son-in- 

 law, as has been stated, never enters the lodge of his wife's parents. 

 Even in a casual passing when they meet elsewhere he is obliged to 

 hide his face by drawing his robe over it, being as they say " abashed 

 by them " or abashed to name or speak to them. 



The men usually marry between the ages of 20 and 25 years and 

 the women are given away from the age of 12 years upward. We 

 are acquainted with but two instances of men of middle age among 

 them who have never been married. The young of bath sexes are 

 extravagantly addicted to dress, particularly the beaus, who dress, 

 paint, feather, and adorn themselves in every way imaginable, 

 especially about the head, and are the most consummately vain fops 

 in existence. 



Widowers and widows remarry, the former in about one year after 

 the loss of their wife and the latter from one to two and three years 

 after the death of their husbands, in proportion as they are grieved 

 for their loss. After a woman has had children her chances for a 

 young husband are few, but middle-aged men do not consider this 

 any objection if she in other respects is able to work and has a repu- 

 tation for industry. The most advantageous time for a man to pur- 

 chase a wife is on his return from a successful war excursion with 

 the horses of his enemies in his possession. The manner in which his 

 means to purchase have been procured gives him additional favor 

 both with the girl as a brave man and with the girl's parents as 

 one who can at any time repair their losses in horses if it be neces- 



