of the feast there was a great public
gathering, in which order was kept by certain warriors of highest
reputation. Any man among the spectators might approach and challenge
any young woman whom he knew to be unworthy; but if the accuser
failed to prove his charge, the warriors were accustomed to punish him
severely.

Each girl in turn approached the sacred rock and laid her hand upon it
with all solemnity. This was her religious declaration of her virginity,
her vow to remain pure until her marriage. If she should ever violate
the maidens' oath, then welcome that keen knife and those sharp arrows!

Our maidens were ambitious to attend a number of these feasts before
marriage, and it sometimes happened that a girl was compelled to give
one, on account of gossip about her conduct. Then it was in the nature
of a challenge to the scandal-mongers to prove their words! A similar
feast was sometimes made by the young men, for whom the rules were even
more strict, since no young man might attend this feast who had so much
as spoken of love to a maiden. It was considered a high honor among us
to have won some distinction in war and the chase, and above all to have
been invited to a seat in the council, before one had spoken to any girl
save his own sister.

It was our belief that the love of possessions is a weakness to be
overcome. Its appeal is to the material part, and if allowed its way
it will in time disturb the spiritual balance of the man. Therefore the
child must early learn the beauty of generosity. He is taught to give
what he prizes most, and that he may taste the happiness of giving, he
is made at an early age the family almoner. If a child is inclined to
be grasping, or to cling to any of his little possessions, legends are
related to him, telling of the contempt and disgrace falling upon the
ungenerous and mean man.

Public giving is a part of every important ceremony. It properly belongs
to the celebration of birth, marriage, and death, and is observed
whenever it is desired to do special honor to any person or event.
Upon such occasions it is common to give to the point of utter
impoverishment. The Indian in his simplicity literally gives away all
that he has, to relatives, to guests of another tribe or clan, but
above all to the poor and the aged, from whom he can hope for no return.
Finally, the gift to the "Great Mystery," the religious offering, may
be of little value in itself, but to the giver's own t