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munlcated to them, though all is done in thei r 

 name, and the chiefs are no more than their 

 lieutenants. What I have told your grace of the 

 grandmother of the hereditary chief of the Hurons 

 of the Narrows, who could never obtain a mifll- 

 onary for her own town, is a convincing proof 

 that the real authority of the women is very 

 fmall : I have been however allured, that they 

 always deliberate firft on whatever is propofed 

 in council ; and that they afterwards give the re- 

 fult of their deliberation to the chiefs, who make 

 the report of it to the general council, compofed 

 of the elders ; but in all probability this is done 

 only for form's fake, and with the reftriclions I 

 have already mentioned. The warriors likewife 

 confuk together, on what relates to their par- 

 ticular province, but can conclude nothing of im- 

 portance which concerns the nation or town ; ali 

 being fubjeft to the examination and controul of 

 the council of elders, who judge in the iaft re- 

 fource. 



It mull be acknowledged, that proceedings are 

 carried on in thefe afTemblies with a wifdom and 

 a coolnefs, and a knowledge of affairs, and I 

 may add generally with a probity, which would 

 have done honour to the areopagus of Athens, or 

 to the fenate of Rome, in the moil glorious days of 

 thofe republics : the reafon of this is, that nothing 

 is refolved upon with precipitation ; and that thofe 

 violent pafiions, which have fo much difgraced 

 the politics even of Chriflians, have never prevailed 

 amongft the Indians over the public good. In- 

 terefted perfons fail not, however, to fet many 

 fprings in motion, and apply an addrefs in the 

 execution ofc their defigns, we could hardly believe 

 barbarians capable of , they alfo all of them pof- 



