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next. If a (thief's sons are too young to govern, his brother or next relative 

 succeeds him and continues chief till his death, when the office reverts to 

 the son of the elder. It is not unusual to find men living as chiefs over the 

 mother's tribe instead of the father's. This is the case with Seah tl amonfi- the 

 Dwamish. The reason seems to be that on the death of the father the 

 children, if young, are often carried back by the mother to her own people 

 and brought up among them. It does not appear that the title in such cases 

 descends in the female line. With the exception of a very few men of whom 

 reputation for courage or sagacity is considerable, and whose influence is 

 in consequence extended over a tribe, their nomituil chiefs have no control 

 beyond their own petty bands, nor is it potent even there. Wealth gives a 

 certain power among them, and influence is purchased by its lavish distri- 

 bution. There is no class of braves, or warriors, and no distinction between 

 war and peace chiefs. The decision of all questions of moment depends 

 upon the will of the majority interested, but there is no compidsion upon 

 the minority. To this fact, as will elsewhere be noticed, seems to be due in 

 some degree, the splitting up and subdivision of tribes. In fact, society is 

 perfectly democratic, because in the absence of government or authority, 

 it cannot be otherwise. There is no priesthood aside from the tamahnous 

 men, or doctors, who have by virtue of their office an important part to 

 play as leading the ceremonial incantations which accompany proceedings 

 of general interest. In their councils, every one has the right of speaking, 

 and assent or dissent is ascertained by exclamation or silence. Some of 

 them are eff"ective orators, though in general their eloquence is of a very 

 noisy and vociferous kind. The women are present at, and join in, these 

 talks, speaking in a low tone, their words being repeated aloud by a 

 reporter. On occasions of less ceremony, they sometimes address the audi- 

 ence without any such intervention, and give their admonitions with a free- 

 dom of tongue highly edifying. In a few instances, matrons of superior 

 character, " strong minded women", have obtained an influence similar to 

 th'iit of chiefs. Sally, the widow of Tsenahmus, a Tsinuk chief, well 

 known on the Lower C^olumbia, enjoys great authority among the Indians 

 and general immunity from the whites. The queen, an old lady of tlie 

 Tsihalis, who patronized Captain Wilkes's party in 1841, yet rules her neigh- 



