EELLS ON THE TWANA INDIANS. 101 



show their style. I have heard them speak on other subjects; on tem- 

 perance and religion ; but those orations have not been preserved. We do 

 not get their real style, however, when they talk through an interpreter. 

 They are natural orators, and their looks and gestures, which are numer- 

 ous, speak eloquently. 



^ U.— DOMESTIC LIFE. 

 A. — MARRIAGE. 



Including courfsMp, hetrotlial, and ivedding ceremonies. — Formerly 

 courtship extended for a long time, and the couple were engaged for 

 some time before marriage, though secretly. The husband purchased 

 the wife of her parents, the price generally being a hundred or several 

 hundred dollars, a large part of which was returned at the wedding. 

 xVt the wedding there was a large feast at the house of the wife's 

 parents, to which all the friends were invited, and after this there was 

 often more feasting for a long time, alternating between the families of 

 the husband and wife. There is but little of this now. At iDresent 

 when they are married in Indian fashion they generally simply take 

 each other without any ceremony, though a few marriages in ancient 

 form have taken place lately among the more uncivilized. 



Within two and a half years, a dozen marriages in American Christ- 

 ian form have taken place, and when this is done they consider the re- 

 lations far more binding, so much so, that they are generally unwilling 

 to have it done unless they have been married six months or more in 

 Indian fashion, to learn whether they will like each other sufficiently. 



Conditions of loth ijarties as to relationship. — The wife is not so ele- 

 vated as white women, doing much more rough work, but is by no 

 means a slave, and is highly prized. 



Dowry. — The wife receives at marriage a large share of the property 

 which the husband gave her father for her before marriage, and also 

 some other things, but there is no regular rule. 



Polygamy, ranh of loives, &c. — Polygamy has been practiced quite 

 commonly among them, the number of wives depending on their abil- 

 ity to purchase,, and their wishes. But this custom is going out of ex- 

 istence, only four of them having more than one wife and only one hav- 

 ing three now. 



Laics about marrying in and out of the tribe. — They may do either, 

 with the consent of the parents. The children of those who marry out 

 of the tribe belong to the tribe of the father; and a number of persons 

 have married out of the tribe. 



Sacredness and permanency of marriage. — Quite sacred, there being 

 trouble when the marriage- vow is violated by either party; but not per- 

 manent, divorces occasionally taking place, though much less often now 

 than formerly. 



B. — Children. 



Accouching. — The woman attends to herself. 



Seclusion of mother. — They are secluded as unclean about one week. 



