The Northern California Indians, No. I [pp. 325-333]

330 THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INDIANS.
each rancheria, but, when out on the costs as high as two strings-say $80 or
war-path, they are somewhat more unit- $Ioo. There is no wedding-ceremony
ed, being under the command of one whatever, but the bride follows the bridechieftain. But the authority of all these groom to his cabin, and they at once set
officers is very slender. The murder of up their savage Lares and Penates.
a man's dearest relative may be com- No marriage is legal or binding unless
pounded for by the payment of money, preceded by the payment of money; and
the price of an average Indian's life that family is most aristocratic in which
being esa fiasdra-one string. If the the highest price was paid for the wife.
money is paid without higgling, the slay- For this reason, it stands a young man
er and the avenger become boon com- in hand to be diligent in accumulating
panions for evermore. If not, then the shells, and not to be a niggard in hagavenger must have the murderer's blood; gling with his prospective father-in-law.
and a system of retaliation is initiated, So far is this shell - aristocracy carried,
which would be eternal, were it not that that the children of a woman for whom
it may be checked any moment by the no money was paid are accounted no
payment of money. better than bastards, and the whole fain In war they take no scalps, but decap- ily are spit upon. Bigamy is not tolitate the slain, and bring in the heads as erated, even in the chief. A man may
trophies. They do battle with bows and own as many women for slaves as he is
arrows; and, in a hand-to-hand encoun- able to support, or, rather, to purchase;
ter-which often occurs-they clutch but, if he cohabits with more than one,
ragged stones in their hands, and maul he brings upon himself obloquy and coneach other with terrible and deadly ef- tempt. He is beneath the notice of honfect. They sometimes fight duels, with est Indians.
stones, in this manner. Though arran- Before marriage, virtue is an attribute
ged without much formality, theyare con- which can hardly be said to exist in
ducted with a considerable degree of either sex, all the young women being a
fairness-the friends of the respective common possession; but after marriage,
combatants standing around them, and when the dishonor of the woman would
setting them on their pins again when involve also that of the husband, they
they fall. live with tolerable chastity, for savages.
There is no process of courtship, but Still, no adultery is so flagrant but the
the whole affair of love-making is con- husband can be placated with money;
ducted by the father of the bride and the and it seldom requires more than one
bridegroom expectant. When a young string. Virtue, therefore, is exceedingly
Philander becomes enamored of some rare, as an innate quality, but is simply
dusky Clorinda, he goes straight to the fa- an enforoed condition; and, indeed, the
ther, and, without anybeating of the bush, Cahroc language, though rich in its vomakes him a plump offer of so or so cabulary, is said to contain no expresmany strings for her. They chaffer, and sion for "virtue," though possessing an
higgle, and drive bargains without any equivalent for "prostitute," correspondreference to her wishes. "My ducats ing to the fact. And yet, with all their
and my daughter," says the avaricious immorality, inconsistently enough, basold Cahroc. Awifeis seldom purchased tards are universally shunned and defor less than half a string; and, when spised. They, and the children for whose
she is especially skillful in making acorn- mother no shell-money was paid-who
bread, and weaving baskets, or belongs are illegitimate, in fact, according to
to an aristocratic family, she sometimes Cahroc ideas-constitute a class of so
[APRIL,