RADIX] SOCIAL ORGANIZATION — GENERAL DISCUSSION 201 



chief and his people. The Wolf, Water-spirit, and Elk clans seem 

 also to have possessed minor political-social functions. Thus the 

 Wolf people are regarded as "minor" soldiers; the Water-spirit 

 people are connected wath the passage of streams, etc.; and the Elk 

 are connected with the care of the fireplaces while on the hunt and 

 warpath. This accounts for seven of the twelve clans, and it thus 

 seems as if the association of political functions with clans was a type 

 that had found great favor among the Winnebago, and was perhaps 

 being extended to every clan. Among the Dhegiha, associations of 

 ceremonial fimctions with social units seem to have found corre- 

 sponding favor, while among the Central Algonquian neither type 

 prevailed. 



Marked political and ceremonial functions of the clan are thus the 

 distinguishing characteristics of the Siouan social organization and 

 have given an entirely different color to clan structm'e there. 



THE RECIPROCAL RELATIOXSHIP OF THE CLANS 



We have seen that one of the bonds between the clans was the 

 fact of belonging to the same side. But there is a special bond be- 

 tween certain clans known as "friendship" relation {hitcak'oro). 

 This always subsists between two, although it seems occasionally to 

 have been extended to three or four clans. Most informants gave 

 these groups in such a manner that the " friendship " relation was not 

 postulated between clans belonging to different divisions. One in- 

 dividual postulated them just on this basis, i. e., Thunderbird-Bear, 

 Warrior-Wolf, etc. There can, however, be no doubt that the preva- 

 lent arrangement is : Thunderbird-Warrior ; Eagle-Pigeon ; Bear- Wolf ; 

 Buff alo-Water-spirit ; Elk-Deer ; Snake-Fish. Most informants did not 

 claim any pairing for the Snake, while some associated it in a three- 

 fold groupmg with the Buffalo and Water-spirit. The four clans of 

 the Waygeregi are generally united in a fourfold group of "friend 

 clan," although some divide them into Thunderbird-Warrior and 

 Eagle-Pigeon. 



Under the term "friend clan " is included the idea of mutual service. 

 This becomes especially marked on two occasions: first, when a mem- 

 ber of one clan visits his "friend clan," and second, when an injustice 

 has been done a member of the "friend clan." On the former oc- 

 casion every possible privilege is extended to him, even to his occu- 

 pying the seat and bed of the host. There is no indication of "wife- 

 borrowing," however. On the latter occasion, the "friend clan" will 

 seek to revenge the injustice just as if the wrong had been done one of 

 its own members. The respect shown b.v one clan to its "friend clan " 

 is again apparent at the naming-feast. There he may be called upon 

 to give the dog names for an individual of the clan with which he is 

 associated, and, at times, to lend one of his clan names to the latter. 

 186823—22 14 



