25 



IV.— SOCIAL ORGANIZATION. 



A group of relatives, tracing a common lineage to soip.e remote ancestor, constitutes a body ^uown to white meu as a geiu or clan. There Is 

 usually a term signifying ffem, or family in tliis large sense. There is also a proper name for each ffens. Sometimes the people of two or more gentet 

 call each other brothers, and this constitutes a phntU-y. 



It is often difficult to discover a common noun signifying gem, or family in this peculiar sense; while, on the other hand, it is sometimes difficult 

 to discover the proper name of the (/eds; perhaps such proper names are not always given. With Indians skilledin picture-writing, the emblem of the 

 gentile name, that is, the tote»i, is usually painted or carved on many valuable articles of property, and is often inscribed on documents, such as mes- 

 sages, treaties, &c. The geiiUs ai-e frequently given the names of animals. 



The gem is the grand unit of social organization, and for many purposes is the basis of goverumeutal organlKatlon, as many rights and duties 

 inhere in it. The gmtUe organization is very widely spread, and may be universal. It has often been overlooked, even by those well acquainted with 

 the Indians, from the fact that some tribes either have no proper names for the gt-iUes, or else scrupulously conceal them. 



It is the right and duty of the gem , to avenge the death, of, and personal inJurie.Sj t,p, <vny of its men)))ers; a^d again, a man may not marry in his 

 gem. These two lines of in.iuiry will generally lead to the discovery of the gem; and the words called for below. The subject is worthy of thorough 

 investigation. ,,.i „; |, ,;..i|i, ,._.■„, ,, n,. ,..■ -..i-.-.i,;i;, -i',v,-. .- .■"r,it.-ir;^ i., 'lkh-iv:! •>iui--' -lilt VI!.'.'' .,...,. 





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