The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-06-28
y AMERICAN ABORIGINES.
Some Traits Developed In Domestic In
aian Life.

Some Traits Dsveioped In Domestic In
disn Life.
lchieago Timesl
Among the many amiable traits which
distinguish the character Of the Ameri-
can Indians, those OF conjugal affection
and fidelity are not the least remarkable.
When q couple is newly married, the
husband, without saying single word
upon the subject, takes considerable
pains TO please his wife, and by repeated
proofs Of his skill and abilities in the art
Of hunting 10 make her sensible that
she can be happy with him, and that she
will not want while they live together.
At daybreak he will be off with his gun,
and often by breakfast time he returns
home with deer, turkey, or some other
game. He endeavois to make it appear
that it is in his power tobring provisions
home whenever he pleases; and his
wife, proud Of having such a good hun
ter for a husband, does her utmost
to serve him and make herself agreeable.
The more man does for his wife's CON-
fort, the more he is esteemed, particu-
larly by the women, who twill say "This
man surely loves his wife"
"In the year 1762," says Mr.. Hecker-
welder, in his interesting account Of the
American Indians, ~ was witness to
remarkable instance Of the disposition
Of Indians to indulge their wives. There
was a famine in the land, and q sick In
dian woman expressed great desire for
mess OF Indian corn. Her husband
having heard that trader Of Lower
Sandusky, Ohio, had little, set of on
horseback for that place, one hundred
miles distant, and returned with as much
corn as filled his hat crown, for which
he gave his horsoin exchange, and came
home on foot, bringing his saddle back
with him. II very seldom happens that
an Indian condescends to quarrel with
his wife, or abuse her, though she has
given him just cause.
In such case the man, without re-
plying or saying single word, will take
his gun and go into the woods, and re-
main there week. or perhaps O fort
night, living on the meat he has killed,
before he returns home again, we'll
knowing he cannot infict greater pun.
ishment on his wife for her conduct TO
him than by absenting himself for
awhile, for she is not only kept in sus-
pense, uncertain whether he will return
again, but is soon reported bad and
quarrelsome woman for, as on these
occasions, an Indian does not tell his
wife on what day or time he will return
which he never fails to do when on good
terms, she is at once put to shame by
her neighbors, who, soon suspectinl
something, do not fail to put such ques
tons as she canhot answer.
When at length he does return, sh,
endeavors to let him see by her atten
tons that she has repented, though
neither speak to each other a single
word on the subject of what has passed
and as his children, if he has any, will
on his return, hang about him ant
,, soothe him with their caresses, he is, OIL
their account, ready to forgive, or a
least not to say anything unpleasant t,
their mother. Ii these traits in tn
conduct of the untutored Indians in do
nestle life put the manners Of NOR
civilized nations to the blush, how mucl
more severe is the reproach to social lif
contained in the following account:
sin the year IT'LL" says the autho
already named, "while 1 was residing O.
the Big Beaver, l passed by the door c
: an Indian who was q trader, and ha
quantity of goods in his house. II
, was going with his wife to Pittsbure
and they were shutting up the house.
| GAS no person remained in du rim
; their absence, this shutting was nothin
more than putting large hominy pound
, ing block outside the door to keep
closed. AS l was looking at the ma
: with attention while he was so employ
/ ed, he addressed me in these words
5 "'See, my friend, this is an India
lock that am putting on my door.
! "Well enough 1 answered, but
see you leave much property in tn
, house are you not afraid those article
( will be stolen while you are gomez
: "'Stolen BY whomf'
: "By the Indians, to be sure
, "No. no. he replied no India
E would do such thing; and unless
white man or white people should hal
, pen this way, I shall find all safe on m
return"