120 LEGENDS AND TRADITIONS 



family. For instance, the ododam of one particular section consisted 

 of the wing of a small hawk and the fins of a sturgeon. 



Some of the families were more influential than others, and it was 

 necessary to obtain their consent before a council could be convened 

 in which matters of importance were to be discussed. Others again 

 were distinguished for their bravery or eloquence, and not a few for 

 their filibustering propensities. There was one head chief recognized 

 by the whole tribe, but his authority was merely nonainal, the several 

 families being placed under the authority and supervision of their 

 respective chiefs. It was expected of a chief, that in order to main- 

 tain the dignity of his office and secure the respect and confidence of 

 his people, he should be generous, brave, able to speak well, and avoid 

 foolish talking ; but above all, to have no feelings for himself — people 

 might abuse him and say many things against him, but it was thought 

 beneath his dignity to take any notice of what they said. This is the 

 substance of the instructions given by an old chief when he resigned 

 in favor of his son or some younger relative of his. There were two 

 sorts of chiefs, namely, the war chiefs, and what may be called the 

 civil chiefs, the former possessed a greater influence than the latter, 

 and were really brave men, judiciously selected from the different 

 families. In ordinary times the civil chiefs were left to manage the 

 affairs of the tribe, but on extraordinary occasions the war chiefs were 

 required to assist the other chiefs and exercise their influence. For 

 instance, in matters of dispute with another tribe, which were likely 

 to end in breaking off the friendly relations between the two tribes, if 

 not satisfactorily arranged, it was, in the first place, the duty of the 

 civil chiefs to use their best endeavors to settle the matter in dispute 

 amicably, but if the other tribe persisted in refusing to listen to any 

 reasonable terms, the matter was handed over to the war chiefs for 

 decision, who at once met in council, selected a few of their number 

 and sent them to the obstinate tribe to demand peace or war. If the 

 deputation retui'ned with words of peace, all was right ; but if other- 

 wise, all friendly intercourse ceased, and each prepared for war ; and, 

 if I recollect right, it was customary to permit the women, in cases of 

 intermarriage, to return to their own tribe, if they wished to do so. 



Having said this much about the social conditions of the Indian 

 tribes and their relations one towards another in the early times, I 

 shall now endeavor to give a brief account of their notions concerning 

 the supernatural world, or what may be called their mythology, and 

 relate some fragments of old legends, in which, I think, there are a 

 few 2:rains of truth to be found relating- to the great events recorded 



