OF THE ODAHWAH INDIANS. 119 



carried on among the Indian tribes in the early times. By the way, it 

 is curious to notice, that tribes whose territories were far separated 

 from one another were, in many instances, upon the best possible 

 terms. 



Generally speaking it may be said that the inhabitants dwelt in 

 villages, and their favorite seats appear to have been eminences on the 

 borders of lakes, and along the banks of rivers, so that in case of a 

 hostile invasion they would have only one side of their village to de- 

 fend and not be cut off from the supply of water. The villages o £. 

 contending tribes were often within sight of each other. Notwith- 

 standing the precaution to prevent their being surrounded, the villagers 

 were often obliged to meet the enemy on the water in their canoes, 

 made of elm bark or hide ; and they thought as much of their naval 

 engagements and victories as the navy of England of their achieve- 

 ments at the present day. It was customary to give a new name to 

 the -warrior who had distinguished himself most in their naval battles, 

 as an honor and reward for his daring deeds, and to commemorate the 

 event. 



We have already noticed how the inhabitants were di\'ided into tribes; 

 and I may here state that a tribe was again subdivided into sections 

 or families according to their " Ododams ;" that is their devices, signs, 

 or what naay be called according to the usage of civilized communi- 

 ties, "Coats of Arms." The members of a particular family kept 

 themselves distinct, at least nominally, from the other members of the 

 tribe ; and in their large villages, all people claiming to belong to the 

 same Ododam or sign, were required to dwell in that section of the 

 village set apart for them specially, which, from the mention of gates, 

 we may suppose, was enclosed by pickets or some sort of fence. At 

 the principal entrance into this enclosure, there Avas the figure of an 

 animal or som.e other sign, set up on the top of one of the posts. By 

 means of this sign every body might know to what particular family 

 the inhabitants of that quarter claimed to belong. For instance, those 

 whose Ododam was the bear would set up the figure of that animal at 

 their principal gate. Some of the families were called after their 

 Ododam. For example : those who had the gull for their ododam, were 

 called the gull family, or simply the Gulls ; they would of course put 

 up the figure of that bird at their gate. Others did not adopt this 

 custom ; for instance, the family who set up the bear were called the 

 "Big feet." Many of the village gates must have been adorned with 

 very curious carvings, in consequence of parts only of different animals 

 being frequently joined together to make up the ensigns armorial of a 



