TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
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and clothing for a family. The marriage state only continues during the pleasure of the parties, as a man claims the right to divorce himself whenever he chooses. Polygamy is practised to a great extent-some chiefs having more than ten wives, but inconstancy is the natural result of it, which is frequently pun- ished by cutting off the nose of the transgressor, and sometimes even by death; but more frequently the woman escapes unpun- ished, and the seducer is deprived of all his available property, which is yielded to the injured party, by custom, without re- sistence. The women perform all manual labour, war and hunt- ing being all the occupation of the men. Jealousy is frequently a great cause of disclird, but the husband exercises unbounded authority over the person of his wife. Their lodges are gen- erally neat, and on the entrance of a stranger, the owner of a lodge designates the route he shall pass, and the seat he shall occupy. Any infringement of this rule is liable to give offence. They are formal and suspicious to strangers, but hospitable and social to those they consider their friends. They have no regular meals, but eat when they feel hungry, each party helping himself, and joining in the meal without invitation or ceremony. The parents exercise full control in giving their daughters in marriage, they being generally purchased at a stipulated price by their suitors. There is no marriage ceremony of any de- scription-they enter the marriage state at a very early age, frequently before the age of puberty. The children are named from some circumstance in tender years, which is frequently changed in after life by some act of greater importance. What- ever children are stolen from their enemies, are incorporated in the family to whom they belong, and treated as their own children, without distinction of color or nation. There is con- siderable respect shown by the younger branches· of the com- munity to the patriarchal chiefs of the tribe. When they make a sacred pledge or promise, they call upon the great spirit as their father, and the earth as their mother, to testify to the truth of their asseverations. Their talk in council is short, and their oratorical powers considered of little value; but good judgment is held in high estimation. The chil- dren are practised at a very early age to the use of the bow and arrow, but the chiefs and principal braves are now ac- customed to the use of the shot-gun and rifle, without dispens- ing with the bow and arrow, which are always carried and used in war. When a chieftain wishes to go to war, he declares his
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