The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 30, July 1926 - April, 1927 Page: 284

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

cause they soon separate from each other-especially if the woman
finds a man who gives her things she likes better than those
the first man gave her. Only the noblest families consider this
kind of a contract binding. Therefore, in their circles, no one
dares to trouble another's wife. There is no punishment for this
loose conduct. They feel no disgrace because of leaving one an-
other; nor are they prevented from deserting each other be-
cause outsiders think they are married. This is why they have
neither disputes nor quarrels. They first talk the matter over,
the personal sentiments of each being expressed; then they ar-
range the matter between them. The woman usually starts by
saying that the man she has gave her many things but what he
gave her was but little in comparison with what the new man
offers her; therefore, the first one should bear the proposed
change patiently and hunt him another wife, or he should go out
and hunt something else to give her so that she will stay with
him. She says other things of a similar nature which, on the
one hand, make a person laugh, and, on the other hand, cause
one to feel pity and compassion. There are but few men who
remain married long before abandoning their wives. The thing
I approve is that they never have but one wife at a time. If a
man wants to take a new wife, he makes a difference between
them, never living with them both at the same time. If the first
wife finds that he has another wife in view, she makes it a point
,of honor (a rare thing among them) to leave him at once and go
away in search of another husband. The women have a very
cruel custom, that is, if, when they give birth to a child, they
know that the father does not like children they will kill it.
These women are, indeed, not ashamed to confess their cruelty,
but even openly boast of it. The Indian nobles seem to be much
more humane, and seem to have some regard for reputation.
There is not room in this report for all that I could say on this
point. The remedy, therefore, I leave to God and his evangeli-
cal ministers. As soon as they learn the language, it will be
easy for them to free these barbarians from their evil ways by
their own good example, their religious zeal, and their fatherly
advice and council. Therefore, we are trusting in the Lord
that, by leading them to the true knowledge, we will free them
from their false ideas.

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