404 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [eth. anx. 46 



one by the general voice becomes popular and is supported ; if not, he 

 mixes with hundreds of others who are in the same situation, waiting 

 an opportunity to rise. There is no relative rank among tribes bear- 

 ing the name of uncle, grandfather, etc. The names of the different 

 bands among themselves or the surrounding tribes have no such sig- 

 nification. There are, of course, affinities of blood and relationship 

 among the Indians as well as among whites. People have their 

 fathers, uncles, grandfathers, brothers-in-law, etc., but this personal 

 or family relationship has nothing to do with the clanship, nor has 

 it any bearing on other tribes. As to the relations above alluded to 

 we will have occasion to refer to them under the head of tribal 

 organization and government. Among eastern or southern tribes 

 such distinctions may exist, but we can vouch they have no name nor 

 interest in all the tribes mentioned in the beginning of this answer. 

 To prevent misunderstanding, it should be observed that when we 

 speak of a tribe we mean the whole group who speak that language. 

 Different tribes are different groups. Portions of these groups or 

 tribes are called gentes, and portions or societies of these gentes are 

 designated as subgentes, and the next or most minute subdivision of 

 gentes would be into families. 



" Peaces " are made between wild tribes by the ceremony of smok- 

 ing and exchanging presents of horses and other property ; sometimes 

 women. The advantages and disadvantages are well calculated on 

 both sides before overtures for peace are made. It is a question of 

 loss and gain and often takes years to accomplish. The Crows, a rich 

 nation, five years ago, through the writer as the medium made peace 

 with the Assiniboin after half a century of bloody warfare. Why? 

 The Crows being a rich nation and the Assiniboin poor, how could 

 the former gain? The points the Crows gained were these: First, 

 ] iberty to hunt in the Assiniboin country unmolested and secure from 

 the Blackfeet ; second, two enemies less to contend with and from 

 whom they need not guard their numerous herds of horses; third, 

 the privilege of passing through the Assiniboin country to the Gros 

 Ventres village in quest of corn. Now for the other party. The Crows 

 having large herds of horses and the Assiniboin but few, the former 

 give them a good many every year to preserve the peace. The Crows 

 winter with the Assiniboin, run buffalo with their own horses, and 

 give the latter plenty of meat and skins without the trouble of killing 

 it. The Crows are superior warriors and the others have enough to 

 contend with the Blackfeet. Again, one enemy less, and jointly the 

 numerical force is so augmented as to make them formidable to all 

 surrounding tribes, while separately they would prey upon each 

 other. It is in this case evident the peace must last, there being suffi- 

 cient inducements on both sides to keep it, although upon the whole 



