Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-04
American AbOrigines.
Chicago Times.

Chicago Times.
Among the many amiable traits which
distinguish the character of the Ameri
can Indians, that of conjugal affection
and fidelity is not the least remarkable.
When a couple is newly married the
husband, without saying a single word
upon the subject, takes considerable
pains to please his wife, and by repeated
proofs of his skill and ability in the art
of hunting to 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 returns home
with deer, turkey or some other game.
He endeavors to make it appear that it
is in his power to bring provisions home
whenever he pleases; and his wife, proud
of having such good hunter for hus.
band, does her utmost TO serve him and
make herself agreeable. The more a
man does for his wife's comfort, the
more he is esteemed, particularly by the
women, who will say this man surely
loves his wife.
''In the year 1862" says Mr.. Hecker-
welder, in his interesting account of the
American Indians, 81 was witness to a
remarkable instance of the disposition of
Indians to indulge their wives. There
was famine in the land, and sick
Indian woman expressed great desire
for mess of Indian corn. Her husband
having heard that trader at Lower San
dusky, Ohio. had little, set off on
horseback for that place, one hundred
miles distant, and returned with as much
corn as filled his hat crown, for which
hn hio hnrcn in nx0hanoa
home on foot, bringing his saddle back
with him" 1t very seldom happens that
an Indian condescends to quarrel with
his wife, or abuse her, though she has
given him just cause. In such a case
the man, without replying or saying a
single word, will take his gun and go in
to the woods, and remain there week,
or perhaps fortnight, living on the
meat he has killed, before he returns home
again, well knowing he cannot inflict a
greater punishment on his wife for her
conduct to him than by absenting him
self for while, for she is not only kept
in suspense, uncertain whether he will
return again, but is soon reported bad
and cuarrelsome woman; for, as on
these occasions, an Indian does not tell
his wife on what day or time he will re-
turn, which he never fails to do when
on good terms, she is at once put to
shame by her neighbors, who, soon sus.
pecting something, do not fail to put
such questions as she cannot answer.
When at length he does return she
endeavors to let him see by her atten-
tiOns that she has repented, though
neither speak to each other single word
on the subject of what has passed; and
as his children, if he has any, will on
his return hang about HIM and sooth
him with their caresses, he is, on their
account, ready to forgive, or at least not
to say anything unpleasant to their
mother. If these traits in the conduct
of the untutored Indians in domestic
life put the manners of more civilized
nations to blush, how much more severe
is the reproach to social life contained in
the following account: "In the year
1771, says the author, "while l was re-
siding on the Big Beaver, passed by
the door of an Indian who was a trader.
and had a quantity of goods in his
house. He was going with his wife to
Pittsburg, and they were shutting up
the house. AS no person remained in it
during their absence, this shutting was
nothing more than putting large
hominy pounding block outside the door
to keep it closed. AS | was looking at
the man with attention while he was SO
employed, he addressed me in these
words:
"'See, my friend, this is an Indian
lock that l am putting on my door.
Well enough, l answered, but
see you leave much property in the
house; are you not afraid those articles
will be stolen while you are goneY'
Stolen! By whom9'
By the Indians, to be sure.
" No, no, he replied; mo Indian
would do such a thing; and unless a
white man or white people should han.
pen this way, shall find all safe on NV
return