Читать книгу The Indian Captive - Brayton Matthew - Страница 4

Government of Snake and Copper Head Tribes – Women worked hard – Marriage Laws – Children taught the use of weapons early – Funeral ceremonies of the Copper Heads – Their Religion.

The Snakes and Copper Heads are ruled over by one General Chief, or Inkupudia, who remains in power for life unless deposed by the vote of all the tribes. Since the union of the tribes there has been but one General Chief, now (in 1860) eighty years of age, named O-wash-kah-ke-naw. He reigns supreme to a certain extent and appoints sub-chiefs to govern the different tribes. These sub-chiefs are appointed for a period of time and not for life. The General Chief makes known his laws or decrees for the government of the tribes in various matters, and it is the duty of the sub-chiefs to communicate these decrees to the tribes under their charge. The laws in relation to stealing are very strict. Any one proved to have stolen from a person belonging to the associated tribes is condemned to death, and is generally burned at the stake. It is looked upon as very disgraceful for an Indian to tell a lie to his fellows.