( n 5 



toife. The chief of each family bears its name 9 

 and in all public deeds he is known by no other* 

 The fame thing happens with regard to the chief of 

 a nation, as well as of every village : but befides 

 this name, which is only a fort of reprefentative 

 appellation, they have another, which diftinguiihes 

 them more particularly, and which is properly a 

 mark of dignity : thus, one is called the mod 

 noble, another the mod ancient, and fo forth. 

 Laftly, they have a third which is perfonal ; but 

 I mould be apt to believe, that this cuftom pre- 

 vails only amongfl thofe nations where the office of 

 chief is hereditary. 



Thefe titles are always impofed with great cere- 

 mony the new chief, or, in cafe he is too young, 

 he who reprefents him, is to make a feaft, bellow 

 prefents, pronounce the elogium of their predecef- 

 for, and fmg his fong. There are, however, 

 fome perfonal names in fo much veneration, that no 

 one dares to appropriate them to himfelf \ or which 

 are at leaft a long time before they are renewed ; 

 when this is done, it is called raifing the perfon to 

 life who formerly bore it. 



In the northern parts, and wherever the Algon- 

 quin tongue prevails, the dignity of chief is elec- 

 tive ; and the whole ceremony of ele£lion and in- 

 ftallation confifts in fome fealts, accompanied witri 

 dances and fongs : the chief elect likewife never 

 fails to make the panegyrick of his predecefibr, and 

 to invoke his genius. Amongft the Hurons, 

 where this dignity is hereditary, the fucceffiori is 

 continued through the women, fo that at the death 

 of a chief, it is not his own, but his fitter's fon who 

 fucceeds him or, in default of which, his near- 

 eft relation in the female line. When the whole 



G 4 branch 



