1897.] PRINCE — THE PASSAMAQUODDY WAMPUM RECORDS. 491 



would detain them whenever they wished to return. Such was the 

 custom. 



The Ceremony of Installation. 



When they reached home, however, and the embassies from the 

 other Wabanaki tribes had also returned, the people of the bereaved 

 tribe were summoned to assemble before the messengers, who 

 informed them of the success of their mission. When the delegates 

 from the other tribes, who had been appointed to elect the chief, 

 had arrived and the salutation and welcome ceremonies had been 

 performed, an assembly was called to elect the chief. 



This took place about the second day after the arrival of the 

 other Wabanaki representatives. A suitable person, a member of 

 the bereaved tribe, was chosen by acclamation for the office of 

 chief. If there was no objection to him a new flag-pole was made 

 and prepared for raising, and a chief from one of the kindred tribes 

 put a medal of wampum on the chief-elect who was always clothed 

 in new garments. The installing chief then addressed the 

 people, telling them that another '' eldest boy " had been chosen, 

 to whom they owed implicit obedience. Turning to the new chief, 

 he informed him that he must act in accordance with the wishes of 

 his people. The main duties of a chief were to act as arbiter in all 

 matters of dispute, and to act as commander-in-chief incase of war, 

 being ready to sacrifice himself for the people's good if need were. 



After this ceremony they marched to the hall, where another 

 dance took place, the new chief singing and beating the drum. A 

 wife of one of the other chiefs then placed a new deer-skin or bear- 

 skin on the shoulders of the new chief as a symbol of his authority, 

 after which the dance continued the whole night. 



The officers of the new chief {gepfins) were still to be chosen. 

 These were seven in number and were appointed in the same 

 manner and with the same ceremonies as the chief. Their duties, 

 which were much more sev^ere, were told them by the installing 

 chief. The flag-pole, which was the symbol of the chief, was first 

 raised. The geptins stood around it, each with a brush in his hand, 

 with which they were instructed to brush off any particle of dust 

 that might come upon it. This signified that it was their duty to 

 defend and guard their chief and that they should be obliged to 

 spill their blood for him, in case of need and in defense of the 



