Richmond Palladium

POLYGAMY.--The liberty of marrying any number of wives, according to fancy and ability to maintain them, is universal, and always has been. This circumstance also tends to make the women dependent on the husband, and desirous to please him; for she is well aware that he can always provide himself with a substitute for her own services. He will not, perhaps, even take the trouble to give her notice of his discontent; but, without saying a word, will take his gun, and move off to some other part of the country. This is often his practice, for a week or two, when she has said or done something to offend him, which he will not deign to mention. But in these cases he very seldom fails to return sooner or later, especially if he has children at home. The wife, on the other hand, as rarely fails to be subsequently, more careful than ever to satisfy him. Among some tribes there is a distinction of rank observed among the wives, according to the time of their marriage, and other circumstances: but it is more common for them to treat each other as equals, and live in harmony and comfort together in the same lodge."