Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-08-01
INDIAN ipoLYCAMlsT
Most Of the Bucks Have Four or Five
Wfves-The Arapaho@s an Exception.

.Polvgamv is common among the
Indians: the bucks think nothing OF
having four of tive wives said Col!
Z. A. Carr of the Sixth United States
CayalrY 10 Chicago Tribune man.
The Colonel has seen more than forty
wears of service in the army and much
OF that time has been spent in the West
among the Indians.
"Polvgamy is practiced among all the
tribes except the Arapahoes cou-
tinued the Colonel But because the
Arapahoes do not practice polygamy
II must not he understood that they
are better than the other tribes. On
the contrary, they are worse. The
Arapah0es do not observe any mar
riage laws. but live together like so
many animals. But the Sioux. Chey-
ennes, and Zunis are more strict than
their pale-faced brethren about observ-
inc their marriage laws.
How the Indians ever learned any.
thing about poIygamy do not know,
but il is suspected the Mormous en-
braced an opportunity to extend their
religion. AT any rate many of the
men have several squaws VINO are
recognized by the other members oil
the tribe as lawful wives To a Ger.
tain extent | believe the Indians are
ahead of the Mormons in polygamy.
They have made several amendments
10 their laws. One of them is that
when brave marries the oldest
daughter in family he is entitled to
all of her sisters If he can support them.
II girl is born to his father-in-law
and mother-iu-law he is also entitled
TO the infant for his wife. When the
child becomes about eight years old
she is turned over to her old husband
to become mis- squaw, or rather one of
them have seen little girls not
three feet in height who were the wives
of some big buck indians
when the Indians leave their
homes for trip of several weeks they
always take one of their wives with
them. They generally take the young
est or smallest squaws, as they are the
easiest to carry on horseback.
An Indian never leaves his family
for any length of time. If he has enc
Of his wives with him it doesn't
matter so much, but if he goes away
suddenly, leaving all at home, he is
sure TO return after an absence of ten
days That is one of the means we re-
sort to in order to capture the Indians
wanted. We know they will make an
effort to return home after certain
length Is time even ii they know there
is great danger in such an undertaking.
Soldiers are hidden in the brush near
the house OF the Indian wanted and
nine times out of ten after certain
lapse of time Mr.. Indian will put in an
appearance.
"PoiyEamy, | presume, will always
exist among the Indians. Such state
of affairs will not influence the whites.
and for that reason the Government
will not make any attenp. to stop it.
and if il did another war would be the
result
The Colonel does not anticipate an
other outbreak in the spring. The
most warIike members of the tribes
are at Fort Sheridan. aud rs they are
t. be Kept acre until June everything
will bee serene on the reservations by
the time they are permitted to return.
"IHe sIutvs were To blame for a
biz part OF the disturbance, said the
Colonel but they have been taken
care Of, aud no trouble can be looked
for from mat direction. One old squaw
with big mouth can create more dis
sension ,lan 100 bucks when left to
themselves. We have learned who
these taIsalive creatures are, and we
made it point to keep their mouths
luIi OF something to eat SO as to keep
them quiet