Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-02-08
E)YzA TRlj.s OF INDIANS.

no, without irterest. The kohza arc
u Missouri tribe in tbs ne,shborhood
of toe koa1a river.
"Ca-sga-wat-an nings. or the fool chief,
is tbs hereditary principal chief, but
he possesses uoahiog like nonarchicai
aa.h ,sity, maintaining his distinction
gniy ~ his bravery and good conduct
There are ten or twelve inferior chief.
tains or persons who aspire to such
dignity; but .hsse do not appear to
CO n 'nsnd any great respect from the
c.ople. Civil as well as military dis.
tincti arises from bravery or gener-
osisy controversies are decided a.
mong the nse.ves; they do not appeal
to their caief, excepting for counsel
They will not marry any Of their kim
deed, however remote. The females,
before marriage, labor in the fields,
and serve their parents, carry wood
and water and attend to the culinary
duties when the el ,ess daughter mar
rie., she commands the lodge. the mo-
tasr aud AL the sisters the latter are
20 os also the wives Of the same indi-
yidnal. When 4 young mau wishes to
marry particular female his father
gives fsast to few persons, general
" old nsn, and aequaints tnen. with
h,s des. 20. they repair to the girl, who
generally feigns an unwillingness to
marry, AID urge, such reasons as her
ooyerty. youth, &c. The old men are
often Obliged to return six or seven
times bsfore they can effect their ob.
jece-whea her consent is obtained,
tho parents OF the young man take two
or three blankets and some meat 10
tho parents oi the female, That they
NAV feast, and Immediately return to
their lodge. The parents put on the
meat 10 cook, and place the same guam.
sity of meat and merchandise on two
horses, aud dress their daughter IN the
best garments they can afford; che
moonis one Of the horses and leads
tho other. and is prec eded by ccier,
announcing, with loud voice, the mar
riage Of the young couple, naming
them to the people; in this way she
eoss 10 the habita ion of her husband,
whose parents take from he every
tn ~ she brings, strip her entirely ma
ksd, dress aer again ia clothes as good
as she Drought, Furnish hsr with two
other n ,rsss, with meat and merchan-
disc. and she returns with her crisr to
her parents. These two horses she
retains as her owo, together with all
the articles she br.ngs back with her.
der parents then make q feast, to
which they invite the husband, his pa
csots and friends the young couple are
seated together, and all then partaks
of tns good cheer. after which the IA
ther at the girl makes harangue, in
which he informs the young msn, that
he INST now assume the command of
the iod .e. and ct every thing belong
ing to him and his daughter. All the
merchandise which the bride returned
with. is distributed in presents from
herself to the kindred Of her husband
In Il. air first visit. Tne husband then
Invites the relations of his wife to .
Toast. Whatever peltries the father
Possesses, are at the disposal OF the son
TO trade with on his account: and in
every respect, the parents, in many in
st.oces. become subservient to the
young man.
"Afssr the death of the husband,
the widow sacrifices herself, rubs her
psrson with clay. and becomes negii.
rent of her dress until the expiration
Ola wear, when the eldest brother Of
the decsas ID takes he: to wife without
any ceremony considers her children
az his ,wr, aud taxes her aud then to
his house if the deceased left no bro
&hsr. she narries whom she pleases.
rhsy have, in some instances. four
Or five wives, but these are nostl y Sis
ters: il they marry iaso two fsniles.
the wives do net harmonise well TO-
ce.her. aud give the husband much in
onietade: there is, however, no re-
strict;on in this respect, except in the
prudence of the husband. The grand
ia Der and grandmother are very fond
Of their gran lchiidrea, but these have
ssry little respect for them The fs-
male children respect and obey their
parents; but the males are very DISC
bedient, aud the more obstinate they
are and the lsss readily they comply
with the commands of their, psrents.
the more tho latter seem to be pleased.
saving, "he will be q brave man. q
great wardrobe will not be control
led"
t" The attachment of fraternity is as
ssron,. if not stronger than with US.
The neice has great difference. TOR the