240 Expedition to the 



of the parent, the daughter sometimes elopes with a favour- 

 ed lover, but not until she has ascertained that his intentions 

 are perfectly honourable. 



The girl displays the most affectionate regard for her pa- 

 rents, and grand parents. 



Whilst the deportment of the sister is thus trenched and 

 guarded, the brother roams at large, almost uncontrolled. 

 Should his conduct be at any time flagrantly outrageous, he 

 will, perhaps, in the anger of his parents, receive a harsh 

 reproof, but an ill judged affection soon prompts them to as- 

 suage his grief, and dry his tears, by presents and soothing 

 expressions. At a very early age, he is furnished with a bow 

 and arrows, with the use of which he delights to employ 

 himself, that he may be qualified for a hunter and warrior. 



From the age of about five years, to that of ten or twelve, 

 custom obliges the boy to ascend to a hill top, or other ele- 

 vated position, fasting, that he may cry aloud to the Wah- 

 conda. At the proper season, his mother reminds him that 

 'the ice is breaking up in the river, the ducks and geese 

 are migrating, and it is time for you to prepare to go in 

 clay." He then rubs his person over with a whitish clay, 

 and is sent off to the hill top at sunrise, previously instruct- 

 ed by his mother what to say, and how to demean himself 

 in the presence of the Master of Life. From this elevation 

 he cries out to the great Wahconda, humming a melancholy 

 tune, and calling on him- to have pity on him, and make him 

 a great hunter, horse stealer, and warrior. This is repeated 

 once or twice a week, during the months of March and 

 April. 



It is only when his pride is concerned, that the boy is obe- 

 dient to the injunctions of his parents; on other occasions he 

 disregards them, or replies only with ridicule. A boy in an- 

 ger discharged an arrow at his mother, which penetrated 

 her thigh; when, instead of chastising him for the act, she 

 applauded his spirit, declaring him to be a gallant fellow, the 



