124 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 194 



sisters marry the son-in-law, the marriages were akeady completed 

 before the death of one of the sisters. It was common occm^rence 

 for two brothers actively engaged in warfare together to promise 

 each other and their wives that, in the event one brother was killed, 

 the other would marry the widow and care for her children. Then 

 friction rarely developed between the two households. 



A brother-in-law would tease his sister-in-law a great deal, often 

 carrying the teasing to the point of vulgarity. He would accuse her 

 of love affairs with decrepit old men or little boys and ask her when 

 he could take her out. Often when the husband could not get away 

 for a hunt planned by a few households he would send a brother in 

 his place to look after his wife, hunting and butchering for her. 

 Supplying a wife for a brother to use in a ceremony or age-grade 

 purchase was a common occurrence. Cooperation between brothers- 

 in-law and sisters-in-law in ceremonies was the usual practice since 

 a man making these purchases would have the assistance of his wife 

 and his brothers as well as his wife's sisters. 



Friend-Friend 



This was a relationship prevailing between two males or two 

 females. The selection was made by the individuals themselves 

 and was of an informal nature. They would play together. Men in 

 later years hunted or went to war together. The only bond was a 

 common liking for each other. A list of a dozen or more sets of 

 friends showed that rarely were they of the same clan. Age and com- 

 patability seemed to be the basis for these associations. It was of 

 common occurrence for two male friends to marry two girls who were 

 friends or for a man to marry two girls who were close friends. 



Joking Relative-Joking Relative 



This is a relationship between related kin with a difference in 

 the degree of teasing depending upon the relationships between the 

 opposing parties. The term "joking relative" applied, in descending 

 order of activity, to persons whose fathers were of the same clan; 

 sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; persons of the same clan; persons 

 whose fathers were of the same moiety or "linked" clans; and grand- 

 parents with grandchildren. 



It was the right of the "joking relative" to criticize an offender of 

 tribal custom and standards, and one was obliged to accept it in good 

 grace. Men would tease one who had less honor marks or had not 

 stolen many horses. Even a member of the village council was not 

 above criticism. Crows Heart had distinguished himself in warfare 

 and for a number of years had the highest war record of the Mandan 

 and Hidatsa. Still, his joking relatives would tease him, saying that 



