DEN1G] THE ASSINIBOIN 521 



The traditions related to the young in their lodges are usually 

 extravagant fables and exploits of former warriors, exaggerated, 

 of course, to make them interesting. Many local data and memoirs 

 of events are thus preserved but so mingled with superstition by 

 the different narrators as not to present any reliable truth. Most 

 of the old men and many of middle age tell these stories in the lodges 

 when they are invited for the purpose. 



The grandmothers are also well versed in this and night after night 

 the children learn a great deal, as soon as they are able to understand. 

 The lives and actions of former warriors and other events of real 

 life form a portion of the instruction thus conveyed. 



These Indians living remote from civilization have no opportunity 

 to steal white children, and we have never heard of one among them 

 possessed by these means. 



There are several half-breed children in all these nations, who, 

 being raised with the Indians, are the same in all respects. 



Cases of infanticide are very common among the Sioux, Crows, and 

 Assiniboin. perhaps most so among the Crow women. It is not far 

 from the correct number if we state that one-eighth of the children 

 are destroyed in utero or after birth by the Crow women. The same 

 also often is done by the Assiniboin, particularly if the father of the 

 child has abandoned the woman before its birth. A quarrel with 

 the husband or even unwillingness to be at the trouble of raising 

 them are the causes for these actions. We think and have strong 

 reason to believe that in some instances, they are destroyed at the 

 instigation of their husbands, although they will not acknowledge 

 this to be the case. 



At all events no punishment is inflicted on the woman for the crime 

 but frequently the means and time they use to produce abortions are 

 the cause of the death of the mother. To produce its death in 

 the womb they use violent pressure and blows upon the abdomen. 

 Frequently they retire to the woods, bring forth the child alone, 

 strangle it and throw it into the water, snow, or bushes. The whole 

 of these measures are publicly talked of among them, and no great 

 degree of repugnance is attached either to the act or to the woman, 

 but the circumstance is laughed at as something ludicrous. 



Male children are always desired by the husband. When small 

 we see no difference made in their treatment or any preference shown, 

 but when grown or nearly so the young man always takes precedence 

 and is considered of far greater value than the girl. The feeling 

 increases in his favor as he becomes of use at war or in the chase. 

 Daughters, when matured, are married and sold, and here the greater 

 interest in them ends; but sons are a source of profit and support 

 for a good portion of their lives. 



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