EELLS ON THE TWANA INDIANS. 107 



times ; in regard to small cases, the chief and sabchiefs decide ; bat 

 generally the cases are brought to the agent, who, after hearing all the 

 evidence, decides the case, or else refers it to five or six of the principal 

 men as a jury for decision. Witnesses and jury are not put on oath; 

 but when persons join the temperance society, they are sworn in the 

 presence of God and all present. 



Slavery. — -There are a very few slaves ; but as there has been no war 

 for a long time, slavery is dying out, and the few which there are are 

 not treated as harshly as they formerly were. 



Inheritance. — Property of deceased parents goes to their children, or, 

 if there are no children, to their friends ; sometimes, with the consent 

 of the friends, it being given to everybody, strangers even. The oldest 

 child generally receives most. 



Torture and punishment. — There is no torture among them now, nor 

 has been, except when captives tried to run away or were contrary, 

 when they cut the soles of their feet. The punishment is generally by 

 fines or imprisonment for a few days, seldom more than two weeks. 

 Generally murder is settled by the payment of from $300 to $600, though 

 occasionally blood revenge is practiced. 



Revenue. — The only revenue is that the convicted persons pay the 

 sheriff or policeman ; the chiefs and jury give their time. 



Census. — They take no census. All that is done is taken by the agent, 

 as given under I, D. 



Declaring and conducting tear, truces, treaties, &c. — For declaring war, 

 see III, 15, B. When a truce takes place, one man, who is favorably 

 known, is sent to the opposite party to arrange the terms of peace; and 

 if a treaty is made, then, sometimes, they prepare a feast, to which the 

 principal men on both sides are invited, and of which they partake to- 

 gether. In their later truces, they used the white flag, or something 

 white as a sign of the truce. 



Commerce, foreign and domestic. — There is nothing deserving the name 

 of commerce among themselves; they simply trade for different articles 

 as they wish. To the Americans they sell boom-logs chiefly, and buy 

 provisions, clothes, ornaments, &c. They have very little trade with 

 other tribes, sometimes trading horses with the Msqually Indians, and 

 buying canoes of the Clallams. 



Succession to ranTc. — Formerly the chieftainship descended from father 

 to son ; now the head chief is elected, generally annually, on the Fourth 

 of July, the custom having changed within ten years. The subchiefs 

 are chosen by the people to serve during good behavior, subject to the 

 will of the people and agent. The sheriff or policeman is appointed by 

 the agent to serve during good behavior. 



Public property, 2)rovisions, and stocl:. — There is none. 



