DENIQ I 



THE ASSINIBOIN 449 



cession has already been referred to. If not yet sufficiently explicit, 

 we may in addition state that it would be a subject of earnest debate 

 in council, not so much with the view of choosing the successor, as 

 this individual had long before been tacitly acknowledged, being the 

 next most popular leader of the right kind, and of the most numer- 

 ous connections, but to install that person into office, intimating their 

 desire that he should lead and govern the camp. This might be 

 ( ailed election, although no vote is taken, yet if a general feeling in 

 his favor prevails he becomes their leader; if not, those who dissent 

 have tlie privilege of leaving that band and joining another, or if 

 numerous enough for the general purposes of hunting and defense 

 can form a band of their own and choose a leader from among 

 themselves. In all this we hope to have been sufficiently explicit as 

 not to present any idea of a distinct line of hereditary succession. 



A chief would be deposed from his office by being guilty of any 

 conduct that would bring upon him general disgust and dissatisfac- 

 tion. Though crimes in the abstract could not have this tendency, 

 yet if he murdered a man without cause whose relations were numer- 

 ous, a skirmish between the two families and immediate separation 

 would be the consequence. If the murdered man was friendless 

 nothing would be done and the rest would fear him the more. The 

 offenses that would most likely lead to his overthrow would be re- 

 markable meanness, parsimony, or incest. A chief must give away 

 all to preserve his popularity and is always the poorest in the band, 

 yet he takes good care to distribute his gifts among his own rela- 

 tives or the rich, upon wdiom he can draw at any time should he be 

 in need. 



We take the custom of wearing medals to be a modern one. at 

 least they say so, introduced by the whites. The ancient mark of 

 distinction was. and still is, the feathers of the eagle's tail, wrought 

 into headdresses of various forms, which to this day is the badge 

 denoting the chief and great warrior, and are not allowed the ordi- 

 nary class to wear. Tattooing also is a mark of dignity. 



We have already named the principal chiefs of bands, though there 

 are others, but by no means a numerous body. But few Indians 

 go through war enough to arrive at that position, more especially 

 as the same individual must be possessed of other natural talents 

 and wisdom. The number is not limited but is from 3 to 6 

 or 8 in bands respectively of 50, 100, and 200 lodges. It makes 

 no difference in their government whether they be few or many; 

 if many, so much the better, as they are wise, brave, and responsible 

 men. 



Power of the War Chief. — No chiefs are war chiefs in contra- 

 distinction to their being civil chiefs. If it is desirable to go to war 

 and so decided, any chief, soldier, or brave warrior has a right to 



