[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1872)] other nations, yet they have high and low proportion to the number of troops under families; inferior and superior chiefs, his command. The rank of captain is whose authority remains hereditary in the neither elective nor hereditary. The houses. The military officers are dis-first occasion to this appointment is gene-posed of only according to the valorous rally a dream, early in life, which a young prowess of each person." — Documentary man or his friends interpret as a destiny History of New York, iv, 128. for the office of captain. Jig therefore 1 A captain among the Indians, is what endeavors to attain the necessary qualifi-we should call a commander or general, cations for this dignity, and to prove his He has several subordinate officers, in prowess by feats of valor. — Loskiel. 32 THE INDIAN TRIBES war song; J and the paths of the forest received the avenging horde, to return to peace only when compelled by necessity or the intervention of mediators. The ceremonies of war and peace were somewhat different when the alliance of one tribe with another was called. In such cases an embassy was dispatched bearing a piece of tobacco, a belt of wampum, and a hatchet with a red handle. The tobacco invited a friendly smoke and consideration, the belt described by certain figures the tribe against whom alliance was desired, and the hatchet determined the purpose. The princi pal captain of the embassy made a speech, on delivering these credentials of his authority.