MARRIAGE CUSTOMS. 309 
and he may even take the life of his 
unfaithful wife with impunity. The squaw 
who has been mutilated for such a cause, is 
ipso facto divorced, and, it is said, for ever pre- 
cluded from marrying again. The conse- 
quence is, that she becomes a confirmed har- 
lot in the tribe. Owing in part, no doubt, to 
such severity in their customs, the Comanche 
squaws have ever been noted for their chastity. 
This may result also, in some degree, from the 
circumstance, that the Comanche husbands, 
fathers and brothers, seldom or never subject 
their wives, daughters and sisters, to that de- 
basing traffic practised among so many of the 
northern nations. 
Like the other wild tribes, the Comanches 
tolerate polygamy, the chiefs and braves some- 
times taking as many as eight or ten wives at a 
time. Three is considered the usual number, 
_ however, for ‘subjects’ or common warriors, 
and nine for the chiefs. Their marriage cere- 
monies vary in different bands; but the fol- 
lowing has been represented as the most 
usual. Unlike most other tribes, the consent 
of the maiden has to be obtained. This done, 
the lover, from apparent delicacy, goes not 
to the father of his intended, but, in accord- 
ance with a custom which prevails among 
some other tribes, communicates his desire to 
an uncle or other aged relative,who enters into 
the marriage contract. The parties, however, 
are not yet fully betrothed; but, as a test éf 
the submission of the bride to the service of 
her proposed lord, the latter ties his riding- 
