THE INTERIOR OP OREGON. 495 



Shortly after their arrival, they were joined by two Canadian free 

 trappers, whom our party was desirous of procuring as guides ; but it 

 was soon found that they were ignorant of the country, and not trust- 

 worthy. 



The customs of the Indians, in relation to the treatment of females, 

 are singular. On the first appearance of the menses, they are fur- 

 nished with provisions, and sent into the woods, to remain concealed 

 for two days ; for they have a superstition, that if a man should be 

 seen or met with during that time, death will be the consequence. 

 At the end of the second day, the woman is permitted to return to 

 the lodge, when she is placed in a hut just large enough for her to 

 lie in at full length, in which she is compelled to remain for twenty 

 days, cut off from all communication with her friends, and is obliged 

 to hide her face at the appearance of a man. Provisions are supplied 

 her daily. After this, she is required to perform repeated ablutions, 

 before she can resume her place in the family. At every return, the 

 women go into seclusion for two or more days. 



When in childbirth, they are still more hardly treated, being 

 required to keep strictly to the hut, whence they are not suffered 

 to be moved, however ill they may be. Death often ensues in 

 consequence. 



In case of illness, very few comforts are allowed the sick, in 

 consequence of the custom that all the garments about a death-bed 

 must be buried with the body. They have no medicines, except for 

 sores or wounds. 



The conjurors, or medicine-men, are employed to cure diseases, 

 and they have practices similar to those mentioned in speaking of 

 the Nez Perces. 



After death, burial takes place within a few hours. The corpse 

 is washed, wrapped in skins, with the legs doubled up, and then put 

 into a grave three feet deep, which is surrounded and covered with 

 stones and sticks, to prevent the wolves getting at it. 



Widows are not allowed to change their dress for a whole year. 



The men may take and put away their wives at pleasure, and both 

 parties may marry again. The greatest requisite sought for in a wife 

 is her capability of providing food. Polygamy was and is still prac- 

 tised. Where this is the case, or where many families reside in the 

 same lodge, each family or wife has a separate fire. In marriages, 

 permission is first asked of the chief, then the consent of the parents 

 is sought for, and afterwards that of the intended. If she object, it is 



VOL. IV. 122 



