19 



But as no civil establishment can exist without 

 some form of government, they had in each village 

 or hamlet a chief called Ulmeji, who in certain points 

 was subject to the supreme ruler of the tribe, who 

 was known by the same name. The succession of 

 all these chiefs was established by hereditary right, 

 a custom that proves the antiquity of these political 

 assemblages. Among other savage nations, strength, 

 skill in hunting, or martial prowess, were the first 

 steps to authority, and afterwards procured the regal 

 sway for those who were invested with command. 

 But with them, on the contrary, it would seem as if 

 wealth had been the means of exalting the ruling fam- 

 ilies to the rank which they occupy, since the wordz//- 

 men, unless taken in a metaphorical sense, signifies a 

 rich man. The authority of these chiefs was probably 

 very limited, that is, merely directive, and not coer- 

 cive, as that of the rulers of all barbarous nations 

 has been, when despotism, favoured by propitious 

 circumstances, has not effaced the ideas of absolute 

 independence, which are in a manner innate among 

 savages, as has been the case with the greater part 

 of the nations of Asia and of Africa. From hence 

 it will not be necessary to investigate the laws of 

 these small societies, which were probably governed 

 only by usages and customs that had been introdu- 

 ced through motives of necessity or convenience. 



The right of private property was fully establish- 

 ed among the Chilians. Each was absolute master 

 of the field that he cultivated, and of the product of 

 his industry, which he could transmit to his chil- 

 dren by hereditary succession. This fundamental 



