428 THE TLTNGIT INDIANS [eth. ann. 26 



caste person was especially expected to conform. The social customs 

 and laws permitted, it is true, great looseness in sexual relations and 

 encourag-ed stinginess and treacher\' toward others, but that was due 

 to a standard of morality low in certain respects, not to the absence of 

 a standard. On the other hand, property rights, except in time of war, 

 or occasionally in time of potlatch, were respected with a care wiiich 

 many in the same region would rejoice to have prevail at the present 

 day. It is even said that it was a disgrace to tell a falsehood, and, 

 if we bear in mind the native idea of what constitutes a falsehood, 

 there is no doubt truth in the statement. 



As among other American tribes, a girl at maturity was secluded and 

 had to undergo many observances supposed to affect her future life, 

 as also the existence of people about her. Her look might destroy 

 the luck of a hunter, fisher, or gambler, turn objects into stone, etc. 

 Therefore at that time she is said to have been secluded in the house 

 for from two to three months without ever going out. 



When a youth desired to marry a certain girl, or when his friends 

 desired to have him do so, the latter went in a body to the girl's mother 

 and her clansmen. Then his mother, sister, or uncle said, " I value 

 the words I am going to speak at forty blankets. If you are willing, 

 kindly accept them." The mother replied, "Perhaps two days later 

 I will speak to 3^ ou." That time having elapsed the youth's friends 

 went thither again and said, "Will you accept my words?" If she 

 consented to the match the girl's mother said, "Yes," after which the 

 boy's friends left the blankets or money they had before promised. 

 Afterwards the boy, his mother, and their friends brought together 

 many blankets and took them to the girl's mother. The giving of 

 property in this way to a man's mother-in-law or father-in-law was 

 called doa'ye aosi'ne ("putting gifts on ])ack"). Upon this the girl's 

 father sent a message to his daughter's people to come in, and he dis- 

 tributed among them everything thus received except a small amount 

 reserved for himself. After that he had to turn round to the boy's 

 friends and give them a certain amount in the waj' of dower in order 

 to show his daughter proper respect and to show that he valued her. 

 Then the girl was asked if she were going to behave herself, and they 

 said to her, " You are now able to take care of yourself and know how 

 to save and how nuich you can earn." If, after a while, the girl did 

 not behave her husband whipped her, and when she ran away to her 

 friends they whipped her again for giving them shame. 



The boy's uncle also had to talk to him. saj'ing, "You nui-st get 

 up early and look for your food or in time yonv wife will be run- 

 ning around with other men and want to marry someone else, and you 

 will be ashamed. Do not drink too much water or it will make you 

 laz}'. Do not sit with 3'our legs stretched out in front or you will 

 have to turn over to get up. Alwa3's take care of your wife. Do 



