4 INDIAN TKIBES. [Chap. I. 



larly free from wranglings and petty strife. Sev- 

 eral causes conspire to this result. The necessities 

 of the hunter life, preventing the accumulation of 

 large communities, make more stringent organiza- 

 tion needless ; while a species of self-control, 

 inculcated from childhood upon every individual, 

 enforced by a sentiment of dignity and manhood, 

 and greatly aided by the peculiar temperament of 

 the race, tends strongly to the promotion of har- 

 mony. Though he owns no law, the Indian is 

 inflexible in his adherence to ancient usages and 

 customs ; and the principle of hero-worship, which 

 belongs to his nature, inspires him with deep re- 

 spect for the sages and captains of his tribe. The 

 very rudeness of his condition, and the absence of 

 the passions which wealth, luxury, and the other 

 incidents of civilization engender, are favorable to 

 internal harmony ; and to the same cause must 

 likewise be ascribed too many of his virtues, which 

 would quickly vanish, were he elevated from his 

 savage state. 



A peculiar social institution exists among the 

 Indians, very curious in its character ; and though 

 I am not prepared to say that it may be traced 

 through all the tribes east of the Mississippi, yet 

 its prevalence is so general, and its influence on 

 political relations so important, as to claim especial 

 attention. Indian communities, independently of 

 their local distribution into tribes, bands, and vil- 

 lages, are composed of several distinct clans. Each 

 clan has its emblem, consisting of the figure of 

 some bird, beast, or reptile ; and each is distin- 



