DENIQ] THE ASSINIBOIN 451 



scruple to administer; besides he was no doctor nor sorcerer on other 

 occasions, and was one of the greatest chiefs the Assiniboin ever had. 

 He was uniformly successful in his young and middle time of life, 

 although he failed in age and died as recorded. This extraordinary 

 man does not present a correct sample of a priest or sorcerer as now 

 considered, and is an anomalous case. 



Matrons in Council. — Neither matrons nor any other women 

 whatever sit in council with the men of any of the Missouri tribes, 

 nor have they privately any influence over men in their public affairs, 

 and take but little interest in them. Their domestic duties occupy 

 most of their time and their social position is inferior to that of 

 men in every respect. We have heard of only one instance where a 

 woman was admitted in council, during a period of 21 years' con- 

 stant residence with all these tribes. 



General Councils. — The roving tribes call no general councils 

 with other nations. Even those with whom they have for a long 

 time been at peace they look upon suspiciously and seldom act to- 

 gether in a large body. We have known, however, a combination 

 of Cree, Chippewa, and Assiniboin, consisting of 1,100 men, who, 

 having met in council, went to war upon the Blackfeet. The council 

 was formed by the Cree and Chippewa sending tobacco to the 

 Assiniboin during the winter, to meet them at a certain place the 

 ensuing spring, where, after deliberating the matter at home, they 

 went and formed the above-named expedition. It is the misfortune 

 of all large bodies of Indians formed of different nations to meet 

 with failure. They can not act in a body. Jealousies arise between 

 the soldiers of the different nations, often quarrels, and always sep- 

 arations and defeat of the object. The evil appears to be the want 

 of a commander in chief whom all are content to follow and obey; 

 also their ignorance and unwillingness to submit to discipline, 

 restraint, or subordination. Opinions clash, rank is interfered with, 

 rebellion, dissatisfaction, and consequent separation follows; or 

 should any considerable body keep on, their march is conducted in 

 such a disorderly manner that their enemies have time and notice 

 to enable them to hide or prepare for them. These tribes are not 

 yet far enough advanced in civil organization to enable them to 

 unite for any great purpose, excepting their mutual and general 

 interest require it. The only way they could and do accomplish 

 anything of importance at war by combination is by each nation 

 being headed and commanded by their own leaders and going to 

 war upon the general enemy at different times and entirely inde- 

 pendent of each other. This increases the number of war expedi- 

 tions and annoys the enemy from different quarters, but does not 

 give them the advantage of bringing large armies into the field. 



