The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-22
MARRIAGE AMONG The M1AM1s
The Ways of the Indian Warrior In
Winning q Squaw.
(rrom the indianapolis Press,

| tfrOm the inuidn1potiS fress.i
There was no formal marriage ceremonj
among the Miamis. The parents Oh bod
parties generally made the match. fire..
quertly without the consent or even the
knowledge OF the parties to the marriage
Often when the young Indian had fixed
| his attention on a young squaw he wou.t
make his desires known to his mother
| or to particular friend in whose care
| he would place the presents intended fol
| the parents of the bride. usually a fine
| blanket, or silver ornaments, or, perhaps
| a sack OF corn: the value OF the presents
we're governed by the standing or wealth
| of the bridegroom. II the presents were
| accepted, it was understood that the con-
tract was completed. The young man
would then lead his chosen companion to
his wigwam. II. in the warm season, 1t
was customary for them to make we'd
ding tour Of several days. Wherever nigat
overlook them, there they pitched Their
wigwam. spending the day in hunting and
fishing. When the tour was ended they
returned with the product of the hunt.
These mutual engagements were very sell
dom broken. although the marriage was rot
based upon affection, was exclusively a
matter oil convenience or physical nsces-
sity. The Miamis had specific causes for
divorce, the same as the whites. These were
temper or crossness on the part CT the
wife.
The difference existing between the mar
rage contract Of the whites and Indians
is illustrated by the following anecdote,
related by the Missionary Hecewelder.
Zone day, In the year ITO, an old Indian,
who had spent much time among the
whites, said to me, Indian has easier way
to get good wife than white man. For,
said he. in his broken English. white man
court-court may be one year. may be two
year before he marry. Well. maybe then
get very good wife; but maybe not; may
be very cross. Well, now. suppose cross.
scold 30 soon as get awake in morning,
scold all day, scold until sleep-all one;
he must keep him. 1.-THE pronouns in the
Indian language have no feminine gender. J
White people have law forbidding TO throw
away wife II ever SO cross; must keep him
always. Well, how does Indian do? Indi-
an, when he see Industrious sQuaw which
he likes, he go to him. place his two fore
fingers close aside each other, make two
look lille one. look squaw in the face-see
him smile-which is all one he say yes
so he take him home-no danger he be
cross; NO. no. squaw know too well what
take another. Squnw love to eat meat; no
husband NO meat. SQuaw do everything
to please husband: he do the same to
please squaw; live happy"
PolyEamy or plurality Of wives pre-
vailed to considerable extent among the
Miamis-in fact. among most of the tribes
Of this continent. 1t was considered lawful
for any man to marry as many wives a.
he could provide for-not more. They
often selected sisters. believing that they
would be more likely to live together in
peace, and that the children Of the one
would be loved and cared for bysthe other
more than II the wives were not so closely
related. In the Indian household there
was no such thing known as domestic jars
or family quarrels.
The squaws were the toilers: the per-
formed nearly all the labor except the
hunting; they cultivated the soil that
brought forth the vegetation that went to
nourish them, and gathered and saved the
crops, jerkcd and dried the meats, prepared
the Indian meal. dried the winters fruit.
gathered the wood for the fires and cooked
lien, assisted by young boys not yet old
enough to hunt. After the boys arrived at
he hunting age they are no longer consid- |
,rcd as squaws. and are put to hunting.
rhey soon become competent hunters, and |
when at home. like the older hunters, lie |
azily about ard are Of no account for any
hing else. never assisting in domestic du-
les. which thsy consider calling solely |
or the women. and dishonorable to men.
When removing from one point to an
ther, or retiring to their hunting grounds |
or tho winter. the squawg duty was to
AIRY the luggage packing It ON their
'scks. When the red man went In pursuit |
4 game. II was the custom Of the faithful
quaw to follow ana carry upon her shout
ers the fruits q the chase, and sAs At
ended tho traps set for game.