124 EXPEDITION TO THE 



long as he behaves himself in a manner agreeable to the 

 wishes of his warriors, for though the dignity be a heredi- 

 tary one, it is not uncommon for them to depose their 

 chiefs. The principal prerogative of the chief is to con- 

 duct all military operations ; when once war is declared, 

 he cannot conclude peace without the consent of his war- 

 riors. The duty of dividing the annuity paid to them by 

 the United States' Government, likewise devolves upon the 

 chief. Formerly the partition was made by him in the 

 manner that he thought best, but some cases of malversa- 

 tion have led to a different method. The money is paid 

 to the principal chief of the nation, who calls his people 

 round him, places them in a circle, and then throws a dol- 

 lar to each, all round, continuing this operation until the 

 whole of the money be disposed of In this division the 

 father of a family receives an equal share for every indi- 

 vidual in his household, whether male or female, child or 

 adult. The annuities paid to the Miamis amount to eighteen 

 thousand dollars. The last census, taken a few years since, 

 made their numbers eleven hundred and seventy-two, of 

 whom three hundred were warriors. An accurate amount 

 of the Potawatomi population could not be obtained here ; 

 it has been variously stated ; we heard it rated at ten thou- 

 sand, which is probably far beyond the true number. Those 

 who receive their annuities at Fort Wayne, are not nume- 

 rous, and the census of Indians in the state of Illinois does 

 not admit of more than twelve hundred Potawatomis. The 

 payment of their annuities on the United States' territory, 

 is_^very much to be regretted ; they ought to be paid to them 

 on the Indian reservations, where by a humane law no 

 spirituous liquors can be sold ; if some means were taken of 

 holding a sort of fair for cattle, and implements of agricul- 

 ture, at the time that the annuity is paid, they might, per- 



