[ »45 ] 
and bravery from among the oldeft warriors, and 
approved of by all the tribe; on which they are 
faluted Sachems. There are, however, feveral ex- 
ceptions ; for fome families have a kind of in- 
heritance in the office, and are called to this fta- 
tion in their infancy. 
The chief Sachem, by fome called the King, 
is fo either by inheritance or by a kind of tacit 
confent, the confequence of his fuperior abili- 
ties and influence. The duration of his autho- 
rity depends much on his own wifdom, the num- 
ber and confequence of his relations, and the 
ffcrength of his particular tribe. But even in thofe 
cafes where it defcends, ffiould the fuccefl'or ap- 
pear unequal to the tafk, fome other Sachem is 
fure to poflefs himfelf of the power and the du- 
ties of the office. I fhould have obferved, that 
military fervices are the chief recommendations 
to this rank. And it appears pretty clearly, that 
heretofore the chief of a nation had, in fome 
fmall degree, the authority of a fovereign. This 
is now the fadl among the mod remote Indians. 
But as, fmce the introduction of fire arms, they 
no longer fight in clofe bodies, but every man is 
his own General ; I am inclined to think this has 
contributed to lefien the power of a chief. This 
chief of a whole nation has the cuftody of the 
belts of wampum, & c. which are as records of 
public tranfadtions: he prompts the fpeakers at all 
treaties, and propofes affairs of confequence. The 
chief Sachems form the grand council ; and thofe 
of each tribe often deliberate apart on the affairs 
of their particular tribes. All their deliberations 
Vql. LXHI. U are 
