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Show 212 THE INDIANS OF THE for any but the one who first captivated him, but because he thinks it more likely to have harmony in the household when they are all of one family. Not even squaws can live happily together when each may have a part interest in the mm as their husband jointly. Polygamy is inconsistent with the female character, whether in barbarism or civiliza tion. As many skins as they can transport on their ponies, of the game killed while on their hunts, are dressed by the squaws and then taken to some trading- post, a military sta tion, or elsewhere, and bartered off for such articles as are most useful to them ; and I am sorry to say that powder, lead and caps, too often, and in too large quantities, are the articles traded for. They are willing to allow much more, proportionately, for ammunition, than any other articles. Buffalo robes, bear- skins, and deer and antelope skins, are the ones they generally bring in, though some of the tribes trap or shoot the beaver, otter, etc., expressly for their furs. The Indian dead are disposed of in several ways. Some of the tribes, the Sioux among them, place the body on an elevated platform in an unfrequented place ; others bury it in the ground, and others hide it in crevices of the rocks, & c. All that pertained to the dead, while living, in the way of robes, blankets, weapons, cooking utensils, & c., are also de posited with the body. In some instances the horse is buried with the dead body of his former rider placed in the saddle. They believe that the spirit of the deceased wanders off to distant hunting- grounds ; and as it may have to pass over a country where there is no game, a quantity of dried buffalo meat is usually left with the body for its subsistence while on the journey. With tribes that do not bury horse and rider together, a horse belonging to the deceased is usually shot that his spirit may not have to go afoot a long journey to his new hunting- ground. A gentlemen informed me that recently he was passing a camp of the Snakes, when he saw three of their finest horses, shot, and upon inquiring why it was done, learned that an Indian who had owned them died the night before. When a married brave dies, his squaw |
