1'22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



would nither see them temj)orarilv in a stningei's hands than entvuitt 

 them to theii" own mother's custody. 



Except iimonji; the Carriers, early marriages are in favor among the 

 Denes, oftentimes the female being barely pubescent when mated. 

 Among the Sekanais nothing was simpler or more expeditious than 

 the contraction of marriage. Whenever a young hunter had made 

 up his mind on mating a fair child of the forest, with scaicely any 

 previous couiting, he would in the day time .simply ask the girl of 

 his choice : " Will yo^i pack my beaver snares for me .?" To which, if 

 she refused him, she would make answer : " No, there are plenty of 

 women, ask another one." But if agreeable to the maid, she would 

 at once answer without any conventional blushes : " Perhaps, ask my 

 mother." Upon which the lad would not ask her motlier, but the 

 girl would immediately tell her about it. Then, following her 

 parent's advice, she would hasten to erect a branch lodge alongside 

 their own primitive habitation,^ and in the evening, the affianced 

 youth (such was he after the propo.see's answer) would on entering it 

 hand hei- his " beaver snares." Without further ceremony, they were 

 man and wife. Supjjosing the woman proposed to was the former 

 wife of the man's deceased brother, there was no declining his offer, 

 she was bound to accept his " beaver snares." 



The preliminaries, if not mora complicated, were at least more 

 difficult and tedious among the Carriers. According to their etiquette, 

 the intended wife had absolutely nothing to say for or against the 

 projected union. Whenever a youth of a different clan had singled 

 her out to be his future wife, he would not exchange a word with her, 

 even when proposing, but installing himself at her father's home, he 

 would begin to work for him, not foiling to present him or the girl's 

 most influential relative with anything of value which might come 

 into his possession, either by hunting or otherwise. Meantime he 

 would never tell them the I'eason of such unwonted liberality, neither 

 would they ask him, but they easily guessed it. When after one' or 



two years wooing to his intended wife's parents, he 



thought a well deserved " Yes " was likely to i-eward his efforts ; he 

 would demand her from her father or guardian through the instru- 

 mentality of an obliging friend. If agreeable, the suitor was thereby 



' .\ Sekanais will never ilwell under the same roof as his married children 1 



