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340 ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS. 



pleases his fancy. Having thus singled out one, 

 to her he makes known his intentions ; and if his 

 addresses are favourably received, he visits her, in 

 the night season, by crawling softly into the tent 

 where she lodges, and where she is expecting him, 

 after the other inhabitants of the lodge are asleep. 

 Here they pass the night, by conversing in a 

 whisper, lest they should be heard by the rest of 

 the family, who all occupy the same apar tment. 

 As the morning light approaches, he withdraws 

 in the same silent manner, in which he came. 

 These noctural visits are kept up for several 

 months ; or, until the young couple think that they 

 should be happy, in passing their days together. 

 The girl then proposes the subject to her moth- 

 er, and she converses with the father in regard 

 to the intended match. If he give his consent, 

 and the mother agree with him in opinion, she 

 will direct her daughter to invite her suitor to 

 come and remain with them. It is now only, 

 that they cohabit ; and whatever the young man 

 kills, he brings home and presents it to the father 

 * of his wife. In this way he lives, during a year 

 or more,, without having any property that he 

 can call his own. After his wife has a child, she 

 calls her husband by no other name but the father 

 of her son or daughter. And now he is at liber- 

 ty to leave the tent of his wife's father, if he 



