224 SIOIAN SOCIOLOGV [ETi.. ANN. 15 



case, each man would lollnw tlic leader wliom lie liked best, and tlie 

 smaller body of Indians would soon adhere to tiie majority. 



Women are never acknowledged as chiefs, nor have thej- anything 

 to say in the council. A chief would be deposed for any conduct caus- 

 ing general disgust or dissatisfaction, such as incest (marrying witliin 

 his gens) or lack of generosity. Though crime in the abstract would 

 not tend to create dissatisfaction with a chief, yet if he murdered, 

 without sutlicicnt cause, one whose kindred were iiuinerous, a fight 

 between the two bodies of kindred would result and an immediate 

 separation of his former adherents would ensue; but should the mur- 

 dered jjerson be without friends, there would be no attempt to avenge 

 the crime, and the people would fear the chief only the more. To i)re- 

 serve his popularity a chief must give away all his property, and he is 

 coiis(H]uently always the pooi'est man in the band; but lie takes care 

 to distribute his possessions to his own kindred or to llie rich, from 

 whom he might draw in times of need. 



The duties of a leading chief are to study the welfare of his people, 

 by whom he is regarded as a father, and whom he addresses as his 

 children. He must determine where the camp should be jilaced and 

 when it should be moved ; when war parties are advisable and of whom 

 they should be composed — a custom radically ditierent from that of the 

 Omaha and Ponka, — and all other matters of like character. Power is 

 tacitly committed to the leading chief, to be held so long as he governs 

 to general satisfaction, subject, however, to the advice of the soldiers. 

 Age, debility, or any other natural defect, or incapacity to act, advise, 

 or command, would lead a chief to resign in favor of a younger man. 



When war is deemed necessary, any chief, soldier, or brave warrior 

 has the privilege of raising and leading a war party, i)rovide(l In^ can 

 get followers. The powers of a warrior and civil chief nniy be united 

 in one person, thus differing from the Omaha and Ponka custom. The 

 leadiTig chief may and often does lead the whole band to war; in fact, 

 it devolves on him to lead any general expedition. 



The Akitcita (Akicita), soldiers or guards (policemen), form an impor- 

 tant body among the Asiniboin as they do among the other Siouan 

 tribes. These soldiers, who are chosen from the band on account of 

 their bravery, are from '2r> to 45 years of age, steady, resolute, and 

 respei^ted; and in them is vested the power of executing the decisions 

 of the council. In a (;amp of 13(10 lodges these soldiers would number 

 from 5(t to (!() men ; their lodge is pitched in the center of the cami) and 

 is occupied by some of them all the time, though the whole body is 

 called together only when the chief wishes a public meeting or when 

 their hunting rcguhitions are to be decided. In their lodge all tribal 

 and intertiibal business is transacted, and all strangers, both wliiti^ 

 men and Indians, are domiciled. The young men, women, and children 

 are not allowed to enter the soldieis" lodge during the time that tribal 

 matters are being considered, and. indeed, they are seldom, if ever, 



