432 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [etii.am.4g 



such insubordinate conduct be submitted to by the mass of the people, 

 without some great mismanagement on the part of the chief, render- 

 ing such a course necessary and inevitable. 



The process of arriving at the chieftaincy — an instance of which 

 was exemplified in the formation of the Red Root Band and of which 

 we were an eyewitness — has always been the same and is as follows : 

 Some ambitious brave young man with extensive relations separate 

 from another band with 8 or 10 lodges of his connections and rove 

 and hunt in a portion of the country by themselves, acknowledging 

 this man as their head on account of his known bravery and success- 

 ful management of large war expeditions. From time to time addi- 

 tions are made to this band from other bands of persons with their 

 families who from different causes of dissatisfaction choose to leave 

 their leaders and submit to the government of the new chief. This 

 chief, wishing to rise, does all in his power to benefit his small band 

 by protecting them, choosing good hunting grounds, giving to them 

 all horses and other property taken by him from his enemies, and, if 

 necessary, fearlessly risking his life to strike or kill one of his own 

 people to preserve order or their sense of justice. In the course of 

 some years around this nucleus is assembled a body which assumes 

 the form and name of a band and the leader, rising in power and 

 support, increases in respect, and the standing and name of chief 

 rewards his perseverance. It will be thus seen that the title and posi- 

 tion of chief is neither hereditary nor elective, but being assumed by 

 the right and upon the principles above explained, is voluntarily 

 granted him by his followers. 



And this is the correct representation of the origin of Assiniboin 

 chieftainship and different bands being the same in all the roving 

 tribes of which we attempt to treat in these pages. This high officer 

 does not, however, at all times wear his honors securely. It is a 

 known impossibility for any man in high station to please everybody, 

 and although surrounded by numerous and strong friends yet he must 

 have some enemies, and it does happen, though rarely, that he is 

 assassinated. But this is more the consequence of some personal 

 quarrel than ambitious designs, for although by assassination the 

 chief is destroyed yet it does not follow that the assassin would take 

 his place. Generally the reverse is the case and he is obliged to fly 

 or the relatives of the deceased chief would kill him. In the event 

 of the decease of a leader or chief, most likely some one of his rela- 

 tives would succeed him, but whether brother, cousin, or uncle would 

 not matter. The successor must absolutely possess the requisite gov- 

 erning powers, viz, known and acknowledged bravery and wisdom, 

 moderation, and justice. If the relative be thus constituted, he would 

 become the chief, not because he is a relative, or that he is the only 

 brave man in camp — there are many such — but simply by being such 



