276* THE SERI INDIANS |eth.ax.v.17 



Classed with respect to major aduiinistration, therefore, the clan may 

 be regarded as an informal adelphiareli!/ (aSeXcfios and a/jxob) or adel- 

 phocmcy (aSs\(f>6; and uparos). It has none of the elements of the 

 patriarchy, since male lineage is not recognized, and can not be classed 

 as a matriarchy, since the clanmother is admistratively subordinate to 

 her brothers; while the avuncular functions are apparently inchoate 

 and indirect, i. e., exercised only through or iu conjunction with the clan- 

 mother. In short, the clan is ordinated or regimented iu ostensible 

 accordance with physical i>ower, though the real faculty is confused 

 (after the fashion of primitive thinking generally) with mystical facul- 

 ties, imputed largely on magical grounds but partly on grounds of age- 

 reverence, etc. Now, when two or more clans combine, the basis on 

 which the common chiefship is deterujined is similar to that deterniiu- 

 ing the ciau leadership; at the outset three factors enter, viz, (I) the 

 seniority of the clans iu the accei)ted tribal mythology (- ) the ])rowess 

 of the respective clan leaders (always weighed iu. conjunction with the 

 shamaiiistic potency of their consorts), and (3) the numerical strength 

 of the respective clans; but practically, so far as can be judged from 

 all available information, the choice really reflects physical force, since 

 in case of doubt the strongest and bravest man becomes the eldest by 

 virtue of his strength and braverj^ while the strongest clan tinds fair 

 ground for claiming seniority in the very fact of its strengtii. Natur- 

 ally dis])utes arise in the adjustment of tlie several relations; and iu 

 the actual analysis in council, the dispute is commonly reduced to a 

 contest between gods and men, i. e., between the claims for mystical 

 and magical potencies on the one hand and the claims of brawn and 

 bone on the other hand, so tiuit strength wins, unless omens or prodi- 

 gies turn the scale — which happens often enough to keep the subjec- 

 tive and the objective elements iu fairly e(iual balance. Sometimes 

 the contests are quickly settled; again they last for months, during 

 ■which the tribe struggles uuder its weight of Cerberus heads; and 

 repeatedly the disputes have ended in the annihilation of clans, or 

 even in the tribal fissions attested by the recorded and traditional 

 history of the Serian family. 



The cinefship once determined, the leader bends all energies toward 

 maintaining tlie position by which he is dignified and his clan exalted. 

 He recognizes his responsibility for tlie weltare of the tribe — not only 

 for success iu battle and food-getting, but for stilling storms at sea, 

 protecting the aguajes from the drought-demons, and securing all other 

 benefits, both physical and magical; he must be aggressive yet cautious 

 on the warpath, fleet and enduring in retreat, indomitable in the chase, 

 bold but not reckless on the balsa, and above all panoplied and favored 

 by the shadowy potencies of air and earth and waters; he must be the 

 local and lowly Admirable Crichton, and his never-neglected watchword 

 must be noblesse oblU/e. His practicial devices for maintaining prestige 

 are many and diverse; it is commonly the chief who carries the sym- 



