124 Expedition to the 



rangue, in which he informs the young man that he must 

 no^ assume the command of the lodge, and of every thing 

 belonging to him and his daughter. All the merchandize 

 which the bride returned with, is distributed in presents from 

 herself to the kindred of her husband in their first visit. The 

 husband then invites the relatives of his wife to a feast. 

 Whatever peltries the father possesses are at the disposal of 

 the son to trade with on his own account ; and in every re- 

 spect the parents, in many instances, become subservient to 

 the } oung man. 



" After the death of the husband the widow scai-ifies her- 

 self, rubs her person with clay, and becomes negligent of 

 her dress until the expiration of a year, when the eldest 

 brother of the deceased takes her to wife without any cere- 

 mony, considers her children as his own, and takes her and 

 them to his house ; if the deceased left no brother, she mar- 

 ries whom she pleases. They have, in some instances, four 

 or five wives , but these are mostly sisters ; if they marry 

 into two families the wives do not harmonize well together, 

 and give the husband much inquietude ; there is, however, 

 no restriction in this respect, except in the prudence of the 

 husband. The grandfather and grandmother are very fond 

 of their grandchildren, but these have very little respect for 

 them. The female children respect and obey their parents j 

 but the males are very disobedient, and the more obstinate 

 they are and the less readily they comply with the com- 

 mands of their parents, the more the latter seem to be pleas- 

 ed, saying * he will be a brave man, a great warrior, he 

 will not be controlled.' 



" The attachment of fraternity is as strong, if not stronger, 

 than with us. The niece has great deference for the uncle. 

 The female calls her mother's sister mother, and her mother's 

 brother uncle. The male calls his father's brother father, 

 his father's sister aunt, his mother's sister mother, and 

 his mother's brother uncle. Thirteen children have oc- 



