drug,
called pivat (still used, by the way, by some of the Indians of Southern
California), and the final branding of the neophyte, which Boscana
describes as follows: "A kind of herb was pounded until it became
sponge-like; this they placed, according to the figure required, upon
the spot intended to be burnt, which was generally upon the right arm,
and sometimes upon the thick part of the leg also. They then set fire to
it, and let it remain until all that was combustible was consumed.
Consequently, a large blister immediately formed, and although painful,
they used no remedy to cure it, but left it to heal itself; and thus, a
large and perpetual scar remained. The reason alleged for this ceremony
was that it added greater strength to the nerves, and gave a better
pulse for the management of the bow." This ceremony was called
_potense._

The education of the girls was by no means neglected.

"They were taught to remain at home, and not to roam about in
idleness; to be always employed in some domestic duty, so
that, when they were older, they might know how to work, and
attend to their household duties; such as procuring seeds,
and cleaning them--making 'atole' and 'pinole,' which are
kinds of gruel, and their daily food. When quite young, they
have a small, shallow basket, called by the natives 'tucmel,'
with which they learn the way to clean the seeds, and they
are also instructed in grinding, and preparing the same for
consumption."

When a girl was married, her father gave her good advice as to her
conduct. She must be faithful to her wifely duties and do nothing to
disgrace either her husband or her parents. Children of tender years
were sometimes betrothed by their parents. Padre Boscana says he married
a couple, the girl having been but eight or nine months old, and the boy
two years, when they were contracted for by their parents.

Childbirth was natural and easy with them, as it generally is with all
primitive peoples. An Indian woman has been known to give birth to a
child, walk half a mile to a stream, step into it and wash both herself
and the new-born babe, then return to her camp, put her child in a
_yakia_, or basket cradle-carrier, sling it over her back, and start on
a four or five mile journey, on foot, up the rocky and steep sides of
a canyon.

A singular custom prevailed among these people, not uncommon elsewhere.
The men, when their wives we