522 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [bjth. ann. 4< 



Suicide 



Widows do not burn themselves on the funeral pile on the decease 

 of their husbands, but frequently hang themselves for that loss, re- 

 venge, or for the loss of their children. Three suicides of this kind 

 have been committed within the last few months in this neighborhood 

 among the Assiniboin, one for revenge, the other two for the loss 

 of their children. The first was the favorite wife of a camp soldier, 

 who being scolded and accused of crime by the eldest wife, after 

 telling her purpose, left the lodge, in the absence of her husband, 

 and disappeared. Although search was made, yet a week elapsed 

 before she was discovered hanging to the limb of a tree. She had 

 climbed the tree, tied the cord to the limb, and descending, hooked 

 on the noose standing on the ground, suspending her body by draw- 

 ing up her legs. She hung so low that her knees nearly touched 

 the ground and she could have risen to her feet at any time during 

 the operation. 



Another woman had her son (a young man) killed by the Black- 

 feet, and immediately afterwards another of her children died from 

 disease. Several persons were appointed to watch the mother, sus- 

 pecting her intentions; but they all fell asleep and she hung herself 

 at the door of the lodge, between two dog travailles set on end. She 

 was a tall woman and could only produce strangulation by swinging 

 herself off the ground from her feet. She did it, however, and the 

 body was brought to the fort for interment. 



The third was a still more unfortunate case. The child of this 

 woman had been sick some time and was expected to die. On the 

 night in question it fell into a swoon and was to all appearance dead. 

 No person being present the mother in the derangement of the mo- 

 ment went out and hung herself. The child recovered, but the 

 mother was dead. 



Every year in this way the women hang themselves, sometimes for 

 the loss of their husbands, but more frequently on account of the 

 death of their children, or for revenge. Suicides are also common 

 among the men. They generally use the gun to produce death. 



The Mandan and Gros Ventres, as has been stated, suspend them- 

 selves on sticks or skewers passed through incisions made in the 

 back, and the motive for so doing has already been adverted to. 



Spots are worn on the forehead and the under lip by some of 

 either sex. Those on the women are for ornament. The bodies of 

 some of the men are covered with tattooing to denote the warrior 

 and brave. It is an operation requiring high payment, and is a mark 

 also of the liberality and riches of the person who undergoes it. but 

 no religious sects or opinions are thereby intimated. No rivers are 

 deemed sacred or coveted in death by any of them. 



