180 REPOET — 1887. 



has publisted, in vol. sxi. of the ' Smithsonian Contributions,' an interest- 

 ing study of them, as relating to episodes of native mythology, in which 

 the animal-ancestors represented are principal figures. More investiga- 

 tion is required to work out this instructive subject, and with the help of 

 the older natives will doubtless well repay the not inconsiderable trouble 

 it will cost. 



Among the special points to be looked to in the condition of the 

 Canadian tribes both at present and previously to civilised influence may 

 be noticed the modes of marriage recognised — whether the husband enters 

 the wife's family or clan, or vice versa ; what prohibited degrees and other 

 restrictions on marriage exist ; what is the division into families, clans, 

 and tribes ; and how far do totems or animal names answer this purpose ; 

 what are the regulations as to position of first or chief wife, household 

 life, separation or divorce ; how relationship is traced in the female and 

 male lines ; rules of succession to cbiefship and inheritance of property. 

 It is desirable to draw up tables of terras of relationship and affinity 

 in the native language according to the usual schedules, or by setting 

 down the relationships which a man and a woman may have for 

 three generations, upward and downward. In doing this it is desir- 

 able to avoid the ambiguous use of English terms, such as cousin, 

 uncle, and aunt, under which a number of different kinds of relation- 

 ship are confused, even brother and sister being used inexactly to express 

 whole brother and paternal or maternal half-bi'other, &c. In fact, 

 the published schedules of kinship are imperfect in this respect. It 

 is desirable to interpret each term into its strict meaning, expressed by 

 father and mother, son and daughter, husband and wife ; for instance, 

 father's father's daughter, mother's son's wife, &c. This scheme of 

 relationship will often be found to constitute a classificatory system, as 

 mentioned above, and in respect of which it will be necessary to observe 

 the use of the term of relationship rather than the personal name as a 

 form of address, and the distinction between elder and younger brothers, 

 sisters, and other kinsfolk. Customs of avoiding certain relatives, as 

 where the husband affects not to recognise his wife's parents, are of 

 interest as social regulations. 



Government and Law. — When it is noticed how the system of chief- 

 ship, councils, &c., among the Iroquois, on being carefully examined by 

 visitors who understood their language, proved to be most systematic and 

 elaborate, it becomes likely that the scanty details available as to groups 

 of West Canadian tribes might be vastly increased. Such old accounts 

 as Hearne has left us of the Tinneh or Athapascans (whom he calls 

 Northern Indians), and Carver of the Sioux, are admirable so far as they 

 go ; but in reading them it is disappointing to think how much more the 

 writers might have learnt had they thought it worth the trouble or that any 

 readers would care to know it. Even now, though old custom has so 

 much broken down, present and past details of savage political life may 

 be gained among the western tribes on both sides of the Rocky 

 Mountains. 



The prominent points are the distinction between the temporary war- 

 chief and the more permanent peace-chief; the mode of succession or 

 election to these and lower offices ; the nature of the councils of old men 

 and warriors ; personal rights of men and women of different classes ; 

 the rules of war and peace ; the treatment of captives and slaves ; the 

 family jurisdiction, with especial reference to the power possessed by the 



