184 THE PIMA INDIANS [etii. axn. 26 



of the fourth day they go to the lioine of his parents. At dawn the 

 next morning the mother-in-law gives the hride a hirge basket of 

 wheat to grind on the metate. She is expected to have completed 

 the grinding by sunrise. In the quaint language of the interpreter 

 we were informed that "if she ran away and left part of it unground 

 it was a sign that she would not be a very good wife. 'When she 

 finished her work she went quietly into the house and sat talking 

 with those around her until slie got acquainted with her new home." 

 The groom presented the bride with a new blanket and his parents 

 gave her presents, but there was no idea of purchase and no gifts 

 were made to the bride's parents. 



Occasionalh' a man possessed such a character that no woman 

 would marry liim, and more rarely a woman would remain unmarried. 

 There is one such at Casa Blanca and one at Blackwater at the present 

 time, the latter being regarded as possessed of supernatural powers 

 because of her spinsterhood. 



A rejected suitor might appeal to the medicine-man for assistance. 

 If he stole a hair from her head and the medicine-man buried it the 

 girl would die. How like the folklore of the Caucasian is this bit of 

 superstition that savors more of vengeance than of love. But that 

 the divine passion does take strong hold upon the Pinias there can be 

 no doubt, as disappointed hopes have been known to lead to suicide. 



Polygamy was practised to some extent, but the division of labor 

 was such that no great economic advantage resulted. There were 

 seldom more than two or three wives, though a chief's son in recent 

 years had six. The plural wives lived in separate houses, the husband 

 spending most of his time with the first. When a youth married lie 

 brought his wife to the home of his parents if there was room for 

 them; if not, a house was built near by and the families ate together. 



It was the custom for a widower to wed the sister of his deceased 

 wife. " Supposing that she does not like the man and does not wish 

 to marry him?" the writer inquired. Whereupon the answer was 

 given with an air of superior wisdom, " She always wants to." Uncles 

 and nieces are not permitted to marry and cousins do not marry 

 "out of respect of the parents for each other." The most careful 

 search failed to discover any trace of groups within the tribe between 

 which marriage was prohibited. 



DURATION OF UNION 



Separation was lightly regarded and easily effected. The woman 

 usually took the initiative, by either going to the home of her parents 

 or going away with another man. Sometimes such remarks as " Rain- 

 bow Leaves is trying to get Sand Cloud's husband away from her," 

 "Dawn Tinkle has changed husbands," were heard. Notwithstand- 



