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SWANTON] CHOCTAW SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL. LIFE 131
lover finds his way to her arms. In the morning they have disappeared, and
the fawn of the woods must be sought in the camp of her husband.
The marriage endures only during the affection or inclination of the parties,
and either may dissolve it at pleasure. This, of course, vei-y often occurs,
in which case the children follow the mother; the father has no control over
them whatever.'"
His reference to polygamy is most illuminating. He says:
This was tolerated by the Choctaws, but not universal. When a man had
two wives, and died, each wife claimed to be the head of a separate family.
They always occupied separate cabins, and generally ten or more miles apart.
No instance came before us where a man had two wives in the same house,
or even in the same yard or enclosure, unless they were sisters, and then they
sometimes lived in the same yard, but in different houses.
An amusing instance came before the commissioners, I-og-la [Imokla or
Yukla?] presented her claim. The witness, Hi-a-ka [Haiaka] deposed that at
the time of the treaty claimant was one of the wives of Tusk-a ma-ha [Tashka
imataha], who had emigrated west. He had many wives. He made the circuit
among them regularly, and thus passed his time. He neither hunted nor
worked. He had ten wives, scattered round the country, fifteen or twenty
miles apart, and he had his regular stands, going from one to the other, being
well fed, and a favorite with all of them. He was a fellow of medium height,
about five feet seven, well built, very muscular and active, lazy and fond
of eating and drinking. He provided his own clothing—nothing more. He
made his home at the house of Ho-pia-ske-tena [Hopaii iskitini], (Little
Leader,) at the old town of Yocka-no-chick-ama [perhaps Yakni achukma,
see p. 75]. Two years before the treaty he married claimant, but only visited
her about tv^o days in every montli ; her house was one of the stands on his
circuit ; he never worked for her or contributed to her support ; it was his
custom to spend some time with every woman when he first took her, but the
novelty soon wore off, and he went his usual round. Claimant had a house
before slie married this man ; he finished it for her ; he had several wives
before he met her, and took several afterwards. He threw none of them
away. Witness never heard any complaint on the part of his wives of neglect
on his part. But when he emigrated, he left them all."
The next description of a wedding ceremony is from Halbert
When a young Choctaw, of Kemper or Neshoba county, sees a maiden who
pleases his fancy, he watches his opportunity until he finds her alone. He
then approaches within a few yards of her and gently casts a pebble towards
her, so that it may fall at her feet. He may have to do this two or three
times before he attracts the maiden's attention. If this pebble throwing is
agreeable, she soon makes it manifest; if otherwise, a scornful look and a
decided " ekwah " indicate that his suit is in vain. Sometimes instead of throwing
pebbles the suitor enters the woman's cabin and lays his hat or handkerchief
on her bed. This action is interpreted as a desire on his part that she should
be the sharer of his couch. If the man's suit is acceptable the woman permits
the hat to remain ; but if she is unwilling to become his bride, it is removed
instantly. The rejected suitor, in either method employed, knows that it is
useless to press his suit and beats as graceful a retreat as possible.
When a marriage is agreed upon, the lovers appoint a time and place for
the ceremony. On the marriage day the friends and relatives of the prospective
Claibourne, Miss., i, pp. 516-517. '^ Claiborne, Miss., i, p. 520.