The league of the Iroquois and other legends : from the Indian muse

306 NOTES.
Note 26. "Love beckon from hei waiting place-" Page 7.K .
" The wife of the hunter has the entire control of the -wigwam and all its temporalities.
To each person who is a member of the lodge family is assigned a
fixed seat, or habitual abiding place, which is called abbiiios. * * If the son is
married and brings his bride home, the mother assigns the bride her abbinos.
This is done by spreading one of the finest skins for her seat, and no one besides
her husband ever sits there. * * Iii this manner the personal rights of each
individual are guarded. The female is punctilious as to her own, so that perfect
order is maintained." H. K. SCHOOLCBAFT, Vol. II. p. 63.
Note 27. "Or plucked the Autumn's ripened ears, Page 77.
,4s meet and Jit for Indian maid."
"It is well known that corn-planting and corn-gathei'iug, at least among all the
still uncolouized tribes, are left entirely to the women. It is not generally known,
perhaps, that this labor is not compulsory, and that it is assumed by the women .
as a just equivalent, in their view, for the onerous and continuous labor of the
other sex, in providing meat, and skins for clothing, by the chase, and in defending
their villages against their enemies. * * A good Indian housewife deems
this a part of her prerogative, and prides herself to have a store of corn to exercise
her hospitality, or duly honor her husband's hospitality, in the entertainment
of the lodge guests." Oneota, p. 82.
Note 28. "To gather its kernels ripe and good.'
1
Page 77.
The wild rice of the north is the Zizania Palnstris, and abounds in the shallow
waters of the Western lakes and rivers. It forms a dish palatable and nutritious
;
and is the principal vegetable food of the Indians where it abounds. It
is gathered by the women, who shove their canoes among it, and, bending the
ripened heads over the boat, beat out the grain with paddles.
Note 29. " With patient trust her hunger bore Page 79.
And all heroic sacrifice.'"
"All acknowledge their lives to be in the hands of the Great Spirit, feel a conviction
that all things come from him, that he loves them, and that, although he
allows them to suffer, he will again supply them. No people are more easy or
less clamorous under suffering of the deepest die, and none are more happy, or
more prone to evince their happiness when prosperous in their affairs. 1 '
H. K. SCHOOLCRAFT, Vol. II. p. 73.
Note 30. "Or only do we fail to find Page 80.
The measure meet for gifts diverse?"
"Genius, learning and Christianity change the features of society, and cast
over it an artificial garment, but its elements continue the same. It need rut
awaken surprise that the Indian has revealed many of the highest virtues of