As soon as this lodge is set up, and the girl’s mother has taken her departure and gone back to her own lodge, the young man, who, until he saw these preparations, had no knowledge of when the marriage was to take place, leaves his father’s lodge, and, going over to the newly erected one, enters and takes his place at the back of it.  Probably during the day he will order his wife to take down the lodge, and either move away from the camp, or at least move into the circle of lodges; for he will not want to remain with his young wife in the most conspicuous place in the camp.  Often, on the same day, he will send for six or eight of his friends, and, after feasting them, will announce his intention of going to war, and will start off the same night.  If he does so, and is successful, returning with horses or scalps, or both, he at once, on arrival at the camp, proceeds to his father-in-law’s lodge and leaves there everything he has brought back, returning to his own lodge on foot, as poor as he left it.

We have supposed the proposal in this case to come from the father of the girl, but if a boy desires a particular girl for his wife, the proposal will come from his father; otherwise matters are managed in the same way.

This ceremony of moving into the middle of the circle was only performed in the case of important people.  The custom was observed in what might be called a fashionable wedding among the Blackfeet.  Poorer, less important people married more quietly.  If the girl had reached marriageable age without having been asked for as a wife, she might tell her mother that she would like to marry a certain young man, that he was a man she could love and respect.  The mother communicates this to the father of the girl, who invites the young man to the lodge to a feast, and proposes the match.  The young man returns no answer at the time, but, going back to his father’s lodge, tells him of the offer, and expresses his feelings about it.  If he is inclined to accept, the relations are summoned, and the matter talked over.  A favorable answer being returned, a certain number of horses—­what the young man or his father, or both together, can spare—­are sent over to the girl’s father.  They send as many as they can, for the more they send, the more they are thought of and looked up to.  The girl, unless her parents are very poor, has her outfit, a saddle horse and pack horse with saddle and pack saddle, parfleches, etc.  If the people are very poor, she may have only a riding horse.  Her relations get together, and do all in their power to give her a good fitting out, and the father, if he can possibly do so, is sure to pay them back what they have given.  If he cannot do so, the things are still presented; for, in the case of a marriage, the relations on both sides are anxious to do all that they can to give the young people a good start in life.  When all is ready, the girl goes to the lodge where her husband lives, and goes in.  If this lodge is too crowded to receive the couple, the young man will make arrangements for space in the lodge of a brother, cousin, or uncle, where there is more room.  These are all his close relations, and he is welcome in any of their lodges, and has rights there.