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The Chippewa
The Chippewa, however, furnished an
exception to this rule. With them the son of a chief had a legal right
to succeed his father.
The rule, though binding, was very elastic, and capable
of stretching to the farthest limits of the tribe--each tribe being
allowed to select its chief from among its own members. Almost invariably
the chief was succeeded by a near relative, always on the female side; but
if these were manifestly unfit, his successor was chosen at a council of
the tribe from among remoter kindred, in which case he was nominated by
the matron of the late chief's household.14
In any event the choice was never adverse to the popular inclination.15
The new chief was inducted into office by a formal council of the sachems
of the league; and on assuming its duties he dropped his own name and
substituted that which, since the formation of the league, had belonged to
his especial chieftainship.16
The chief was required to be a skillful hunter, if not the best in his
tribe, and liberal with
his game. He must also be a good physician, and able to advise and assist
the sick in every circumstance. It was his duty to take care of orphans,
to harbor strangers, and to keep order in the town. But he, like the
sachem, had no power of compulsion; and like him, also, must keep up his
reputation by a prudent, courteous and winning behavior.17
The tribes were by no means equal in numbers, influence and
honor, says Parkman. So marked were the distinctions among them that
Colden and other early writers recognized only the three most
prominent,--those of the Tortoise,
Bear and Wolf. They were eminently social in their habits; and without any
law, other than that of common usage, or means of enforcing justice, these
rude, uncultured barbarians lived together, in communities aggregating
thousands, with a harmony which civilization might envy.
Says Parkman:--
"Though vain, arrogant, boastful and vindictive, the
Indian bore abuse and sarcasm with an astonishing patience. Though greedy
and grasping, he was lavish without stint, and would give away his all to
soothe the moans of a departed relative, gain influence and applause, or
ingratiate himself with his neighbors. In his dread of public opinion he
rivaled some of his civilized successors.
"All Indians, and especially these populous and
stationary tribes, had their code of courtesy, whose requirements were
rigid and exact; nor might any infringe it without the ban of public
censure. Indian nature, inflexible and unmalleable, was peculiarly under
the control of custom. Established usage took the place of law--was in
fact, a sort of common law, with no tribunal to expound or enforce it. All were prompt to aid each other in distress, and a neighborly spirit
was often exhibited among them. When a young woman was permanently
married, the other women of the village supplied her with firewood for the
year, each contributing an armful. When one or more families were without
shelter,
the men of the village joined in building them a house. In return, the
recipients of the favor gave a feast, if they could; if not, their thanks
were sufficient. Among the Iroquois and Hurons, and doubtless among the
kindred tribes, there were marked distinctions of noble and base,
prosperous and poor; yet while there was food in the village, the meanest
and poorest need not suffer.
"The following testimony concerning Indian charity and
hospitality is
from Ragueneau: 'As often as we have seen tribes broken up, towns
destroyed, and the people driven to flight, we have seen them to the
number of seven or eight hundred persons, received with open arms by
charitable hosts, who gladly gave them aid, and even distributed among
them a part of the lands already planted, that they might have the means
of living.' " Relation, 1650, 28. want. He had but to enter the nearest house, and seat
himself by the fire, when, without a word on either side, food was placed
before him by the women.
"Contrary to the received opinion, these Indians, like
others of their race, when living in communities, were of a very social
disposition. Besides their incessant dances and feasts, great and small,
they were continually visiting, spending most of their time in their
neighbors' houses, chatting, joking, bantering one another with
witticisms, sharp, broad, and in no sense delicate, yet always taken in
good part. Every village had its adepts in these wordy tournaments, while
the shrill laugh of young squaws, untaught to blush, echoed each hardy
jest and rough sarcasm."
There was another council, says the same author,
between which and that of the subordinate chiefs the line of demarcation
seems not to have been very definite. In its character it was essentially
popular, but popular in the best sense, and one which can find its
application only in a small community. Any man took part in it whose age
and experience qualified him to do so. It was merely the gathered wisdom
of the nation. The Jesuit Lafitau, familiar with the Iroquois at the
height of their prosperity, compares it with the Roman Senate, and defines
it as the central and controlling power, so far, at least, as the separate
nations were concerned. He thus describes it: "It is a greasy assemblage,
sitting sur leur derriere, crouched like apes, their knees as high as
their ears, or lying, some on their bellies, some on their backs, each
with a pipe in his mouth, discussing affairs of state with as much
coolness and gravity as the Spanish Junta or the Grand Council of Venice."
The young warriors also had their councils; so, too,
had the women; and the opinions and wishes of each were represented by
means of deputies in this council of old men, as well as the grand
confederate council of the sachems. The government of this unique republic
resided wholly in councils; by which all questions were settled, all
regulations established--social, political, military and religious. The
war-path, the chase, the council-fire, in these was the life of the
Iroquois; and it is difficult to say to which he was most devoted.
In this blending of individual, tribal, national and
federal interests lies the secret of the immense power wielded by the
Iroquois--a power which successfully resisted for a century and a half the
hostile efforts of the French; which made them for nearly a century (from
1664 to 1763,) an immovable wedge between the contending French and
English Colonies in America, alike feared and courted by both; and enabled
them to exterminate or effectually subdue neighboring tribes with whom
they had long waged war with varying success.
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14 Lafitau.
15 Parkman.
16 Ibid.
17 Loskiel.
Notes About the Book:
Source: Smith, James H., History of Chenango and Madison Counties, New York.
D. Mason & Co. Syracuse, NY 1880
Online Publication: The manuscript was scanned and
then ocr'd. Minimal editing has been done, and readers can and should expect
some errors in the textual output.
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