t of objects of women's workmanship, such as
garters, belts, mocassins, etcetera; then follows a meeting of the
parents, which terminates by a speech from the girl's father, who
mentions his daughter as the "dove," or "lily," or "whisper of the
breeze," or any other pretty Indian name which may appertain to her.
She has been a good daughter, she will be a dutiful wife; her blood is
that of a warrior's; she will bear noble children to her husband, and
sing to them his great deeds, etcetera, etcetera. The marriage-day
arrives at last; a meal of roots and fruits is prepared; all are present
except the bridegroom, whose arms, saddles, and property are placed
behind the fair one. The door of the lodge is open, its threshold lined
with flowers; at sunset the young man presents himself; with great
gravity of deportment. As soon as he has taken a seat near the girl,
the guests beg in eating but in silence; but soon a signal is given by
the mothers, each guest rises, preparatory to retiring. At that moment,
the two lovers cross their hands, and the husband speaks for the first
time, interrogatively:--"Faithful to the lodge, faithful to the father,
faithful to his children?" She answers softly "Faithful, ever faithful,
in joy and in sorrow, in life and in death"--"Penir, penir-asha, sartir
nu cohta, lebeck nu tanim." It is the last formula,--the ceremony is
accomplished. This may seem very simple and ridiculous; to me it
appeared almost sublime. Opinions depend upon habits and education.

The husband remains a whole year with his father-in-law, to whom belongs
by right the produce of his hunting, both skins and flesh. The year
expired, his bondage is over, and he may, if he wishes it, retire with
his wife to his own father's, or construct a lodge for his own use. The
hunter brings his game to his door, except when a heavy animal; there
ends his task; the wife skins and cuts it, she dries the skin and cures
the meat. Yet if the husband is a prime hunter, whose time is precious,
the woman herself, or her female relations, go out and seek the game
where it has been killed. When a man dies, his widow wears mourning
during two or four years; the same case happens with the male widower,
only his duties are not so strict as that of a woman; and it often
happens that, after two years, he marries his sister-in-law, if there is
any. The Indians think it a natural thing; they say that a woman will
have more care of her sister's