334 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



Sturt s implies a like origin of supremacy among the Austra 

 lians. Similarly in South America. Of people on the 

 Tapajos, Bates tells us that &quot; the footmarks of the chief could 

 be distinguished from the rest by their great size and the 

 length of -the stride.&quot; And in Bedouin tribes &quot; the fiercest, 

 the strongest, and the craftiest obtains complete mastery over 

 his fellows.&quot; During higher stages physical vigour long con 

 tinues to be an all-important qualification; as in Homeric 

 Greece, where even age did not compensate for decline of 

 strength : &quot; an old chief, such as Peleus and Laertes, cannot 

 retain his position.&quot; Everyone knows that throughout 

 Mediaeval Europe, maintenance of headship largely depended 

 on bodily prowess. And even but two centuries ago in the 

 Western Isles of Scotland, &quot; every Heir, or young Chieftain of 

 a Tribe, was oblig d in Honour to give a publick Specimen of 

 his Valour, before he was own d and cleclar d Governor.&quot; 



Mental superiority, alone or joined with other attributes, 

 is a common cause of predominance. With the Snake Indians, 

 the chief is no more than &quot;the most confidential person 

 among the warriors.&quot; Schoolcraft says of the chief acknow 

 ledged by the Creeks that &quot;he is eminent with the people 

 only for his superior talents and political abilities ;&quot; and that 

 over the Comanches &quot; the position of a chief is not hereditary, 

 but the result of his own superior cunning, knowledge, or 

 success in war.&quot; A chief of the Coroados is one &quot; who by his 

 strength, cunning, and courage had obtained some command 

 over them.&quot; And the Ostiaks &quot; pay respect, in the fullest 

 sense of the word, to their chief, if wise and valiant; but this 

 homage is voluntary, and not a prerogative of his position.&quot; 



Yet another source of governmental power in primitive 

 tribes is largeness of possessions: wealth being at once an 

 indirect mark of superiority and a direct cause of influence. 

 With the Tacullies &quot; any person may become a miuty or chief 

 who will occasionally provide a village feast.&quot; &quot; Among the 

 Tolewas, in Del Norte Country, money makes the chief.&quot; 

 The Spokanes have &quot; no regularly recognized chief,&quot; &quot; but an 



