immediately before eating.  The male face is entirely blacked; that of the female only on the cheeks.  The course is discontinued in the case of the male at eighteen, and of the female at fourteen.  At eighteen, the boy is instructed by his parents that his education is completed, and that he is old enough to be a man.  His face is then blacked for the last time, and he is removed at the distance of some miles from the village, and placed in a temporary cabin.  He is there addressed by his parent or guardian to this purport:  “My son, it has pleased the Great Spirit that you should live to see this day.  We all have noted your conduct since I first blacked your face.  They well understand whether you have strictly followed the advice I have given you, and they will conduct themselves towards you according to their knowledge.  You must remain here until I, or some of your friends, come for you.”

The party then returns, resumes his gun, and seeming to forget the sufferer, goes to his hunting as usual, and the son or ward is left to endure hunger as long as it can be endured, and the party survive.  The hunter, meanwhile, has procured the materials for a feast, of which the friends are invited to partake They accompany the father or guardian to the unfortunate starving subject.  He then accompanies them home, and is bathed in cold water, and his head shaved after the Indian fashion—­all but a small space on the centre of the crown.  He is then allowed to take food, which, however, as a consecrated thing, is presented him in a vessel distinct from that used by the rest.  After he has eaten, he is presented with a looking-glass, and a bag of vermilion.  He is then complimented for the firmness with which he has sustained his fasting, and is told that he is henceforward a man, and to be considered as such.  The instance is not known of a boy eating or drinking while under this interdict of the blacked face.  They are deterred, not only by the strong sentiments of Indian honor, but by a persuasion that the Great Spirit would severely punish such disobedience of parental authority.

The most honorable mode of marriage, and that generally pursued by the more distinguished warriors, is to assemble the friends and relatives, and consult with them in regard to the person whom it is expedient to marry.  The choice being made, the relations of the young man collect such presents as they deem proper for the occasion, go to the parents of the woman selected, make known the wishes of their friend, deposit their presents, and return without waiting for an answer.  The relations of the girl assemble and consult on the subject.  If they confirm the choice, they also collect presents, dress her in her best clothes, and take her to the friends of the bridegroom who made the application for the match, when it is understood that the marriage is completed.  She herself has still a negative; and if she disapprove the match, the presents from the friends of the young man are