DDNIG] THE ASSINIBOIN 553 



children. These, of course, are obliged to work, though not exactly 

 in the character of slaves. All the women work and these pursue 

 the same labors, though no doubt a greater share falls upon them 

 than upon others. No description of labor, such as carrying burdens, 

 drying hides, cooking, or procuring fuel, etc., is considered dis- 

 graceful or menial. They all do it, even the wives of the chiefs, 

 and the prisoners would be compelled to employ their time to the 

 advantage of their owners; or if young and handsome would be 

 kept as wives, yet still be made to work as the rest. They are not 

 beaten nor brutally treated, but forfeit their lives by an attempt 

 to run away. Female chastity is always violated on prisoners - 4 if 

 they are even tolerably young and good looking, and often in such 

 a degree as exceeds the possibility of description or belief, but we 

 are not aware that any superstitious opinions are connected with 

 the act. 



Costume of a Warrior. — The ordinary costume of a mounted war- 

 rior of known bravery has already been described. The headdress, 

 however, differs in form according to the fancy and standing of the 

 individual. The tail feathers of the war eagle are the only mark 

 of rank. These are attached to scarlet cloth or otter skin in many 

 wavs. sometimes merely encircling the head, at others extending in 

 a ridge along the back, reaching below the horse's belly when 

 mounted. The shirt, and leggings are made of clean white dressed 

 deerskin, antelope, or bighorn skin, with black stripes painted around 

 the arms and legs and fringed with the hair of the scalps taken 

 by him, occasionally also with ermine skins, or horsehair. The 

 horse's head and tail are adorned with the same kind of feathers, 

 as also his lance and shield. The latter is a piece of dried raw 

 bull's hide, very thick, round, and about 18 inches in diameter. The 

 feathers are sewed or tied on around near the edge, and two or three 

 in the center. Frequently this is painted with the figure of some 

 animal, either real or imaginary, and is impervious to arrows, 

 though a ball will perforate within the distance of 100 yards if it be 

 held steadily. 



The manner in which it is slung on the left arm and being 

 bowed in the middle the ball is apt to glance off to one side and often 

 in this way his life is saved. Arrows will stick in but not go through, 

 and he can with it cover most of the vital parts, at the same time 

 using his arms with ease. A good many of the renowned warriors 

 wear necklaces made of the claws of the grizzly bear, worked or 

 tied on a strip of otter skin, and chiefs wear their medals if they have 

 any. These fine dresses are not worn on the march, but packed on 



24 It appears that the violation of the chastity of female prisoners was unusual among 

 other tribes who were highly organized socially. It was repugnant to the Iroquois. 



88253°— 30 36 



