476 INDIAN TRIBES OF 



husband and children's wants. This also may proceed from the fact 

 of the influence the women possess ; for they always assume much 

 authority in their tribe, and are held in high respect. They have 

 charge of the lodge and the stores, and their consent is necessary for 

 the use of them ; for after coming into their possession, these articles 

 are considered the women's own. Where such a state of things 

 exists, it may readily be inferred that the domestic ties are not very 

 weak; and they are reputed to have a strong affection for their children 

 and nearest relatives. In this respect they are unlike the Nez Perces 

 and some of the other tribes, and have always been remarked for 

 their attentions and kindness to the infirm and aged, who are first to 

 be provided for. One of their customs would, however, go to prove 

 that these good qualities cannot exist in the degree in which some 

 represent it. When an Indian of this tribe dies, leaving young 

 children who are not able to defend themselves, his other relatives 

 seize upon his property, and particularly the horses, which he may 

 have left. The only excuse they offer for this kind of robbery and 

 desertion is, that their fathers did so before them. 



I have before said, that there is no authority recognised in their 

 chief, at least so far as the power to inflict punishments for crimes or 

 disorders is concerned. There is, however, often a principal man, 

 who, from the circumstance of possessing wealth, intelligence, and 

 character, and sometimes from birth, united, obtains a sort of control 

 or chieftainship, and exercises an authority over others from his 

 personal influence, ruling more by persuasion than by command 

 through sanction of law. The extent of his authority must of course 

 depend upon the individual's own temper : if he were a determined 

 character, he might no doubt exercise very considerable power. 



Punishment for crime is generally inflicted by the tribe, and 

 frequently goes so far as to expel the delinquent ; but I understand 

 that the circumstances under which the crime was committed, have 

 great influence in their decisions, and that they are for the most part 

 just. Punishment is not by any means certain, an instance of which 

 occurred in the case of Cornelius sending the very man with horses, 

 which had been hired of him, who had the year before, on a similar 

 errand, cheated him out of the stipulated pay. The chief had no 

 redress for this wrong, and, moreover, felt obliged again to employ 

 the same person, from fear, as was supposed, of exciting the ill-will 

 of his friends or tribe. 



As respects the belief of these Indians in a Supreme Being, 



