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lives with her. Wives, particuhirly the hiter ones, are often sold or traded 

 off. Divorce is unknown, for the simple reason that the marriage-tie, if so it 

 can be called, has no force, except in the will of the husband. A man sends 

 his wife away, or sells her at his will. (Jn the death of a brother, the survivor 

 generally takes his wife; so also the father sometimes takes the wife of his son, 

 and even the son his father's subsec[uent wives. They are, however, often 

 sold or returned to their own })eople. Prostitution is almost universal. An 

 Indian, perhaps, will not let his favorite wife, but he looks upon his others, 

 his sisters, daughters, female relatives, and slaves, as a legitimate source of 

 profit; and this seems to have been a trait of the coast tribes from their first 

 intercourse with the whites. Occasionally, adultery forms a cause of dif- 

 ficulty; but it is then only because the woman is i-eserved for the time being 

 to the husband's use, or because he fears to be cheated of his just emolu- 

 ments. Cohabitation of unmarried females among their own people brings 

 no disgrace if unaccompanied with childbirth, which they take cai-e to pre- 

 vent. This commences at a very early age, perhaps ten oi- twelve years. 

 The practice of abortion is to be considered in its connection. This is 

 almost universal, and is produced both by violence and by medicines. 

 Certain plants are known to them which effect it, and it is generally believed 

 by the whites, that they know of others which produce sterility at will. 



The ceremony of a wedding among the Tsinuk is thus described by 

 Ross Cox, and is much moi-e correct than most of his remarks upon Indian 

 manners: "The negotiations preceding a marriage are short, and the cere- 

 mony itself simple. When a young man has made his choice, he commis- 

 sions his parents or other relatives to open the business to the girl's relatives. 

 They are to receive a certain quantity of presents; and when these are 

 agreed on, they all repair to the house intended for the future residence O'f 

 the young couple, to which nearly all the inhal:)itants of the village are 

 mvited. The presents, which consist of slaves, axes, beads, kettles, haikwa, 

 brass and copper bracelets, &c., are now distributed by the young man, 

 wlio, in his turn, receives an equal or perhaps greater quantit}- from the 

 girl's relatives. The bride, decorated with the various ornaments conmion 

 among the tribe, is then led forth by a few old women and presented to the 



