Hubert Bancroft - The Native Races [of the Pacific states], Volume 1, Wild Tribes

'Slavery is common with all the tribes.' Warre and Vavasour , in Martin's Hud. B. , p. 83. Sahaptins always make slaves of prisoners of war. The Cayuses have many. Alvord , in Schoolcraft's Arch. , vol. v., p. 654; Palmer's Jour. , p. 56. Among the Okanagans 'there are but few slaves … and these few are adopted as children, and treated in all respects as members of the family.' Ross' Adven. , p. 320. The inland tribes formerly practiced slavery, but long since abolished it. Parker's Explor. Tour , p. 247. 'Not practised in the interior.' Mayne's B. C. , p. 243. Not practiced by the Shushwaps. Anderson , in Hist. Mag. , vol. vii., p. 78.

Each Okanagan 'family is ruled by the joint will or authority of the husband and wife, but more particularly by the latter.' Wives live at different camps among their relatives; one or two being constantly with the husband. Brawls constantly occur when several wives meet. The women are chaste, and attached to husband and children. At the age of fourteen or fifteen the young man pays his addresses in person to the object of his love, aged eleven or twelve. After the old folks are in bed, he goes to her wigwam, builds a fire, and if welcome the mother permits the girl to come and sit with him for a short time. These visits are several times repeated, and he finally goes in the day-time with friends and his purchase money. Ross' Adven. , pp. 295-302. The Spokane husband joins his wife's tribe; women are held in great respect; and much affection is shown for children. Among the Nez Percés both men and women have the power of dissolving the marriage tie at pleasure. Wilkes' Nar. , in U. S. Ex. Ex. , vol. iv., pp. 410, 475-6, 486, 495. The Coeurs d'Alêne 'have abandoned polygamy.' Stevens , in Pac. R. R. Rept. , vol. i., pp. 149, 309; Gibbs , in Pac. R. R. Rept. , vol. i., p. 406. Pend d'Oreille women less enslaved than in the mountains, but yet have much heavy work, paddle canoes, etc. Generally no marriage among savages. De Smet , Voy. , pp. 198-9, 210. The Nez Percés generally confine themselves to two wives, and rarely marry cousins. No wedding ceremony. Alvord , in Schoolcraft's Arch. , vol. v., p. 655. Polygamy not general on the Fraser; and unknown to Kootenais. Cox's Adven. , vol. ii., pp. 155, 379, vol. i., pp. 256-9. Nez Percés have abandoned polygamy. Palmer's Jour. , pp. 129, 56. Flathead women do everything but hunt and fight. Ind. Life , p. 41. Flathead women 'by no means treated as slaves, but, on the contrary, have much consideration and authority.' Hale's Ethnog. , in U. S. Ex. Ex. , vol. vi., p. 207. 'Rarely marry out of their own nation,' and do not like their women to marry whites. Dunn's Oregon , pp. 313-14. The Sokulk men 'are said to content themselves with a single wife, with whom … the husband shares the labours of procuring subsistence much more than is usual among savages.' Lewis and Clarke's Trav. , p. 351; Dunniway's Capt. Gray's Comp. , p. 161; Gray's Hist. Ogn. , p. 171; Tolmie and Anderson , in Lord's Nat. , vol. ii., pp. 231-5; Ind. Aff. Rept. , 1854, p. 208; De Smet's West. Miss. , p. 289.

The wife of a young Kootenai left him for another, whereupon he shot himself. Ross' Fur Hunters , vol. ii., p. 169. Among the Flatheads 'conjugal infidelity is scarcely known.' Dunn's Oregon , p. 311. The Sahaptins 'do not exhibit those loose feelings of carnal desire, nor appear addicted to the common customs of prostitution.' Gass' Jour. , p. 275. Inland tribes have a reputation for chastity, probably due to circumstances rather than to fixed principles. Mayne's B. C. , p. 300. Spokanes 'free from the vice of incontinence'. Among the Walla Wallas prostitution is unknown, 'and I believe no inducement would tempt them to commit a breach of chastity.' Prostitution common on the Fraser. Cox's Adven. , vol. i., pp. 145, 199-200. Nez Percé women remarkable for their chastity. Alvord , in Schoolcraft's Arch. , vol. v., p. 655.