204 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



Outside of translations of texts and the textual criticism of the 

 records, the writer had several important problems to solve. Of these 

 one was to determine the probable number of clans which functioned 

 in the first session of the Federal Council of the League of the Iro- 

 quois, and to obtain further information for a clearer definition and 

 description of the Ohwachira and the Clan in Iroquoian polity. In 

 regard to these matters there is much confusion in the literature. 



No little mental effort is required to appraise fully and correctly the 

 dominant and fundamental character of the functions of the Oh- 

 wachira — the uterine brood or family — in the organic structure of 

 the tribal and the League organizations of the Iroquois peoples. 



It is most important to bear in mind that the Ohwachira which 

 owned a male Federal Chiefship title was self-governing within the 

 scope of its rights and obligations. One of its important rights was 

 to select and install suitable executive officers, namely a Chief tainess 

 who was the Trustee for the public property, the rights, and the obli- 

 gations, of the Ohwachira whose agent she was. She ranked as a 

 peer of the male Federal Chieftains of the League, and was ex-officio 

 a full member of the great Federal Council of the League, wherein 

 she could sit at will. Like the male Federal Chieftains of the League 

 she had assigned her by her own Ohwachira a male Chief Warrior 

 who was her executive aide and spokesman in public assemblies and 

 in the sessions of the Council of the League ; she and he were chosen 

 and installed in the identical manner in which the male Federal Chief- 

 tains were. 



With the advice and consent of the members of her own Ohwachira, 

 she was the official censor of the acts and the conduct of the male 

 Federal Chieftain who represented her Ohwachira in the Federal 

 Council of the League. And as spokeswoman for her Ohwachira she 

 could with the active support of her Chief Warrior Aide depose said 

 Federal Chieftain for just cause, but not before three admonitions 

 had been made to him to reform and repent of his errors. She and her 

 Chief Warrior Aide retained office only during good behavior. 



This Chief tainess was entrusted with the very important duty also 

 of seeing that the Federal Chieftain of her Ohwachira had the loyal 

 support of its members, and to see that his larder at all times had the 

 provisions needful in receiving and in entertaining foreign official 

 visitors. It was also her duty to appoint such other minor function- 

 aries as civil and religious affairs demanded. 



One of the problems calling for explanation is the fact that certain 

 clans, apart from the three stated to be common to all the tribes, had 



