Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri: Edited with Notes and Biographical SketchDenig, Edwin Thompson
History
Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri: Edited with Notes and Biographical Sketch
Denig, Edwin Thompson
Assiniboine Indians; Indians of North America -- Missouri River Valley
Rapes on virgins are nearly unknown. Were such a crime accomplished
the law would be death to the perpetrator, not because it is morally
wrong, but because it depreciates the price of the woman and lessens
her chance of marriage. It is also considered as an insult to her
relatives, intimating a contempt of their feelings and power of
protection.
The evils arising from falsehood or lying are with them of small
importance. Any lies an Indian could invent would not be productive of
any great evil, and owing to their associations the falsehood would
soon appear. This being the case it is not regarded as a great offense
even to the individual, much less Wakoñda. They all lie occasionally,
and the custom is so common as scarcely to attract any further notice
than their ridicule. Therefore there is no punishment attending on it
further than the person famed for lying would be neglected and despised
by the others. To call an Indian a liar would be insult certainly, but
not in the same degree as the same epithet among whites. It would not
be aggravation enough alone to merit a blow or any revenge. There is
no such thing as profane swearing among any of these prairie tribes,
nor is there a word in their language equivalent to even the smallest
profane oaths in such general use among whites. The name of Wakoñda is
never mentioned without manifestations of awe and reverence. In this
respect at least they are far superior to their Christian brethren. In
conclusion of this answer we come again to the starting point.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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