The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-14
INDIAN SOCIOLOGY.
An Interesting Volume on the Social Life
of the Omaha Indians.

of the Omaha Indians.
Washington Special to New York Tribune
The Rev. ]. Owen Dorsey. of the Bureau of
Ethnology, has nearly ready for the printers
an interesting volume on the sociology of the
Omaha Indians, who number about 100
persons and now live in Burt county, Neb
Mr. Dorsey has spent the greater portion of
the last twelve years in the study of the dia-
lects, laws and customs of the various
branches of the great 'Siouan family, and has
gathered formidable mass of material of
interest to the ethnologsts. He has obtained
his information from original sources hay
ing spent months at time among the In
dams learning their language and studying
their laws and customs. Among many
tribes the ancient codes are undergoing a
course OF modification, made necessary by
the changed condition of things in respect
to gaining a livelihood and influenced to a
still greater extent by contiguity to the white
race.
Mr.. Dorsey finds much to admire in the
customs of the Indians and pronounces
many OF the opinions prevalent in the East
about them erroneous. In respect to their
family economy, he says the relation of wife
W lhC iuSDduI, 81 lar lTOIl DtlllS ike lil1L
OF slave to master, is, among the tribes he
has visited, one of respect and influence, linn
tied in its sphere but recognized under all
circumstances. Hunting was not the pas
time but the business of the husbands, and
regulations OF the most rigid kind governed
all his operations. No man could go off on
a hunt by himself without the consent of
the chiefs appointed to direct the expedition,
lest by premature action he should alarm
the butfaloes, and while filling his own
larder ruin the chances of success for
the rest of the tribe. Hunting and war for
the defense of the tribal interests we're the
work of the men, and it was considered suffi-
Gent Woman, for her share, cared for the
home and performed the duties which lay
near it. The tepee and all it contained in
tribes where ''mother-right' prevailed were
hers in fee simple.
Polygamy was not forbidden, but when
practised had few of the Objectionable fea-
lures which characterize it elsewhere. 1t
was the wife who besought her husband to
extend his marriage relations. She selected
the woman who was to share with her the
cares OF the household and the attentions of
the husband. For this purpose her choice
almost invariably fell upon her own sister or
some near blood relation. She would say
I'VE are one flock, my sister and I; my duties
are too hard: take her, that L may have as
sStance."
1t was the duty of a man to marry the
widow of his deceased brother, after the lapse
OF suitable time-two or three years-and
care for her and her children as if they were
his own. The aged and helpless also had
claims upon their more vigorous blood rela-
tives which were of an exacting nature, and
were everywhere recognized. Some years
ago an asylum was built by the government
in one OF the tribes for those who were I'M
able to care for themselves but owing to the
maintenance of ancient customs it has never
had an occupant.
The terms brother" and "sister" are an
piled to distant cousins as we'll as to those
born Of the same parentage, and marriage be-
tween members of the same genus or clan is
rgidly prohibited The rights of the moth
er-in-law would be considered very oppres-
sive to civilized husband. ii she does not
approve the conduct of her daughters hus-
band she may take his wife away by the ex-
ercise of her own arbitrary will and give her
to another man. There is possibly a com
pensating advantage in this for husband
who does not like his wife, since he might Sc
cure divorce by merely offending his moth
er-in-law.
Unchastity is rare. Thieving is held in
great contempt and thieves are punished Sc
verely. The penalty for murder is death at
the hands of the relatives of the victim, but
may be compromised by the payment of
valuables at the will of the executioners.
Drunkenness, which proved terrible curse
when it prevailed, has among the Ornahas
been entirely eradicated by the efforts of the
native policemen, uninspired by any other
influence than their own good sense.
Charity of a certain ostentatious kind is
fixed principle. A mans Importance and
influence are not estimated so much by what
he possesses as by what he has given away.
To bestow upon ones kindred is not consid-
cred an act of charity, but duty To give
to those who have no claim is a public virtue,
and the generous rank with 1.-THE brave" in
dignity and influence. Gifts are usually
made in public, and any spectator may re.
cord the event by notching stick and thus
prepare himself to appear as a witness should
the benefactor ever claim to have gwen more
than he actually bestowed.