TRIBAL GOVERNMENT THE COUNCIL. 265 



but what the functions of this council are, what its duties 

 or powers, and how far these latter are concurrent with 

 those of the chief, are questions about which I could 

 never get a satisfactory answer from even the most 

 intelligent Indian. It is certain, however, that it is re- 

 garded by the Indians themselves as a most important 

 feature in their governmental affairs. 



A council lodge is provided for every band, and the 

 council is summoned to meet on any and every occasion. 

 There seem to be no regular members of the council. 

 On the contrary, it seems to be composed of any and all 

 warriors who may choose to assemble or call. The chiefs 

 and prominent warriors do, however, most of the talking, 

 the younger warriors keeping in the background. 



The conclusion is not arrived at by vote, but by 

 acclamation ; hence eloquence, or the power of swaying 

 by words the opinions or passions of hearers, is an im- 

 portant lever in Indian governments. 



It may not be out of place here to remark upon the 

 peculiar and unnatural style of speech-making which 

 obtains whenever whites and Indians meet in council, 

 and in which there is always much twaddle about the 

 Great Spirit, Great Father, &c. It is not a natural way 

 of speaking for white men, and, from careful inquiry, I 

 am convinced that it is equally foreign to the Indian. 

 It is not fairly accounted for by the paucity of words in 

 Indian languages, and must have originated with our 

 ' Pilgrim,' ' Pennsylvania,' and other 'Fathers,' in whom 

 a strong desire to convert the savage was constantly 

 struggling with a painful lack of knowledge of his language, 

 which would, of course, force them to recur over and 

 over again to the same set of words. This peculiarity 

 being accepted by the Indian as the white man's manner 

 of speaking, he (being an imitative animal) adopted it ; 

 and so we go on, year after year, making and listening to 

 speeches which are as absurd to the Indians as to ourselves. 



Whatever the power or influence of chief and council. 



