Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-09-08
WRITTEN FOR THE TRIBUNE.
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.
No. 5.


The condition of women, among the Indians
viii be noticed in this number; though | must
apprise the reader that description, however
minute or eloquent portray TO the mind OF
one who has never witnessed it. the horrors of
| female life among savage people, especially
among the Indians of this continent.
Perhaps may better illustrate my subject, by
taking single case, from birthfo the grave, and
exhibit it as the lot of each one Of the sex.
When child is born, the first inquiry is What
is it e. II the answer be "a GIRL there is at
once expression of the greatest contempt from
the lips of all who hear. So universal has this
become and so wretched the condition afterward
that in very many cases the disappointed mother,
and sometimes the father, takes the unconscious
infant and dashes its head against the first stone
or log that presents itself. For the truth of this
statement, have the word of several traders and
interpreters. And in such cases the guilty parent
is called to account. Should they suffer it
to live however, it is at once dashed to an Indian
cradle, board about three feet long; and its feet
so confined that the heels incline outward and the
toes inward 1t is kept in ohs position until the
bones become hardened, and it is thus fitted for
carving heavy burdens Who ever saw an Indian
woman whose ices did not incline inward? And
who on the contrary, ever man whose feet
were not inclined outvard2 1t is accounted for
as above ANY one ear determine the sex of an
infant the cradle by looking at its feet. But
the days of infancy passed, through many kicks
and untold srfIerings, and the child of four years
is put under heavy burdens of more than It's own
weight and must continue thus until puberty
The girl then is for sale, and goes to the youth
whose parents can give the largest price. The
bargain is made and the young woman is the
property of the husband and his heirs, He is bound
to support her. but is at liberty to sell her at any
time. During the short time / was among them,
l knew some men to swap or sell their wives
| several times.
But to proceed. The woman becomes wife
and a mother. She is the bound slave of her
| husband, and must implicitly obey his WILL how
ever unreasonable Their habits require them
| to move often, sometimes more than once month.
The wife is under the necessity of taking the bark
! for covering the wigwam, and all the cooking
| utensils, together with all other property they
may possess; and, in addition thereto, the child
!
her husband. lie takes up his line of march,
| carrying his gun and hunting implements only,
and, when he may have made his location, sits
down TO smoke until his wife has kindled fire,
cut wood for the night, procured poles for tent
remove the snow, and put up and covered the
| wigvam. He then leisurey walks in and stretches
seats himself before the fire until she prepares
whatever refreshments they may have She must
not eat with him without permission, but after he
is satisfied, she and the children may partake OF
what is left This IS the character of her life,
and is rarely changed; nor can man render him
self more contemplate among them than by as
sisting his wife in her work. The word for woman
is ''cgaG, and for dog are-noosh. You may
call an Indian an-e-moosh," and insult him. but
when you call him "equa,' it is understood that
you challenge him to deadly conflict. There is
no name in their vocabulary so disgraceful to
man as TO be called woman.
But if the husband dies, is not the widow then
released No. her condition is tenfold worse
While he lived he was bound to protect her She
is now the slave OF his mother, if alive and his
brothers if his mother be dead. She is under
worse bondage to them than to her husband while
ne llNetI GilS must procure Sollle
if possible blanket or two yards of cloth, and
roll it in bundle Ike doll, and whatever other
vaaluables she may posses or may obtain within q
year, must be added. This she must decorate as
well as she may with feathers or other ornaments
and carry it with her for one year. Her food is
dealt out to her by her master mistress, one
half of which must be given 10 the representative
in her arms and she must under no circunstan-
ces, taste it 1t is only to be eaten by the male
members OF her husbands family. The profits o.
all her labor, making moccasns, &c, belongs &c
her owner; and at the end of the year, If they
have not previously sold her for wife to some
one else, the valuable bundle which has been &C
cumulating, is taken and divided among the rela
ftives OF her husband. at u feast made for tina
purpose. She is then free, and may dispose o
: herself as she may choose. But it is seldom tina
she Is not sold before the year expires, that he
bondage is continued. But if she should becom
Tree, she has often more children TO support
and having no one to hunt for her. she Is in
more hopeless condition than if married befor