Page:American Anthropologist NS vol. 1.djvu/772

 powell] SOCIOLOGY, OR THE SCIENCE OF INSTITUTIONS 701

difference in age ; and it is a law in tribal society that one person must address another by a kinship term. He may speak 0/ another by his totem name, or by any other name; but he must address another by his kinship name. It is always considered an insult to call another person of the same body of kindred by any name other than his kinship name. A Caucasian boy on the street may call his brother " John " ; but an Amerind boy in the woods must call his brother by one of the terms which show that he is older, or younger, than himself.

The oldest man of the clan having natural authority, accord- ing to Amerindian ideas, over all members of the clan is their chief; and this is the basis of the patriarchy. A clan is said to have a patriarchal government.

Sometimes the elder-man or patriarch or chief becomes old and imbecile ; or there may be another man in the clan whom they suppose to have greater ability, and they conclude to make him the chief. In such a case the law is obeyed by a plan which lawyers term a legal fiction. The new chief is promoted ; and then he becomes the grandfather of the clan. If his father is still living, he is compelled to call his chieftain son "grandfather " ; if his elder brother is still living he is compelled to call the chief " elder brother " ; if his uncle is still living he is compelled to call the chief, " uncle." So, by this legal fiction, the chief is still the patriarch of the clan. Not only can a chief be promoted to the head of the clan, but from time to time different individuals in the clan are promoted over their fellows. A young man who proves himself to be skilful in fishing and hunting, or a brave warrior, may be promoted over his fellows, who thus become persons younger than himself and must address him as if he were older. Every year adds a new spike to the antlers of the stag. Some Amerinds call such a promotion the adding of a spike to a man's horns ; other tribes speak of it as adding another stripe to his paint ; and still others, as adding another feather to his bonnet. Sometimes a chief may prove to be a coward ; then he will be

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