The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...

434 PAPERS RELATING TO
have observed, that military services are the chief recommendations to this rank. And it appears pretty clearly, that heretofore the chief of a nation had, in some small degree, the authority of a sovereign. This is now the fact among the most remote
Indians. But as, since the introduction of fire arms, they no
longer fight in close bodies, but every man is his own general,
I am inclined to think this has contributed to lessen the power
of a chief. This chief of a whole nation has the custody of the
belts of wampum, &c. which are as records of public transactions: he prompts the speakers at all treaties, and proposes
affairs of consequence. The chief sachems form the grand
council; and those of each tribe often deliberate on the affairs
of their particular tribes. All their deliberations are conducted
with extraordinary regularity and decorum. They never interrupt him who is speaking; nor use harsh language, whatever
may be their thoughts. The chiefs assume most authority in
the field, but this must be done, even there, with great caution;
as a head warrior thinks himself of most consequence in that
place.
The Indians believe in, and are much afraid of witchcraft:
those suspected of it are therefore often punished with death.
Several nations are equally severe on those guilty of theft, a
crime indeed uncommon among them; but in cases of murder,
the relations are left to take what revenge they please. In
general, they are unwilling to inflict capital punishments, as
these defeat their grand political object, which is, to increase
their numbers by all possible means.
On their haunts, as on all other occasions, they are strict
observers of meum and tuum; and this from principle, holding
theft in contempt; so that they are rarely guilty of it, though
tempted by articles of much value. Neither do the strong
attempt to seize the prey of the weak; and I must do them the
justice to say that, unless heated by liquor, or inflamed by
revenge, their ideas of right and wrong and their practices in
consequence of them, would, if more known, do them much
honour. It is true, that having been often deceived by us in
the purchase of lands, in trade, and other transactions, many