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Show HINTS AND EXPLANATIONS. 41 tribal council is also chief of the tribe. The organization of the tribal council should be carefully studied and recorded. Among the very small tribes the gentile organization seems to be of minor importance. In fact, the social organization and government of these tribes is but poorly understood. For military affairs there is an especial military council, composed of the warriors of the tribe. The war chief may be elected, but usually this chieftaincy is hereditary in some one of the gentes. Rarely the civil chief is war chief, but never by virtue of his civil rank. The principal crimes recognized among the Indians are murder, maiming of various kinds, assault, theft, adultery, witchcraft, and treason, both against gens and the tribe. The names of crimes, together with methods of procedure and proof in prosecution, should be discovered and recorded § 20.- RELIGION. Some of the Indians have nature- gods, i. e. 7 a god of the east, a god of the west, a god of the north, and a god of the south; a god of rain, a god of thunder, the sun, moon, stars, & c. As stated elsewhere, the greater number of their gods are animals- the progenitors or prototypes of the present species. They also have daimon gods, i. e., the gods or presiding spirits of rivers, lakes, springs, mountains, corn, beans, & c. Many hero gods are worshiped- wonderful people of the long ago. The names of all such gods should be discovered and recorded when possible. On inquiring of the Indians about their gods, the term " god" should not be used, for by this they understand the God of the white man. Their generic or class- name for god is often a term signifying " the ancients"- those who lived long ago- or some equivalent expression. Inquire, then, for wonderful ancient people, wonderful ancient animals; the first people, the first animals. The student of Indian languages can do royal service to ethnology by stopping now and then in his linguistic work to record the interesting stories which the more intelligent Indians may be induced to relate concerning the wonderful personages of their mythology. Nor should these stories be neglected because of their simplicity, inconsistency, or vulgarity. |
