Lying, cheating, and theft are never punished; but if one should be killed; although by chance, then the vengeance of the relations of the deceased fall upon the perpetrator of the deed, who take every method to take away his life; still they are afraid to attempt it while in a sober state; but generally whe[n] intoxicated he runs a great risk. However if the murderer be possessed of property, by giving it to the relations of the deceased, it will often turn aside their blood-thirsty intentions for a time; but generally falls a victim in the end – as revenge can never be entirely eradicated from the breast of an Indian. Were it to terminate these it would only be doing common justice but so far otherwise, that it often causes a perpetual war among the surviving friends who mutually cherish an implacable hatred even until death. On the whole such instances as the above seldom occur with this nation; as they generally fight it out with the fist and plucking of hair; an Indian would always prefer to have his body beaten black and blue, rather than have the face marked.

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