ers of two
clans.

The clan was not confined to one neighborhood. As it grew, sections of
it drifted away and took up their abode in different localities. Thus,
when the original single Iroquois stock became split into five distinct
tribes, each contained portions of eight clans in common. Sometimes it
happened that, when a clan divided, a section chose to take a new
totem. Thus arose a fresh centre of grouping. But the new clan was
closely united to the old by the sense of kinship and by constant
intermarriages. This process of splitting and forming new clans had
gone on for a long time among the Indians--for how {23} many hundreds
of years, we have no means of knowing. In this way there had arisen
groups of clans, closely united by kinship. Such a group we call a
_phratry_.

A number of these groups living in the same region and speaking a
common dialect constituted a larger union which we sometimes call a
_nation_, more commonly a _tribe_.

This relation may be illustrated by the familiar device of a
family-tree, thus:

[Illustration: Indian Family Tree.]

{24} Here we see eleven clans, all descended from a common stock and
speaking a common dialect, composing the Mohegan Tribe. Some of the
smaller tribes, however, had not more than three clans.

The point that we need to get clear in our minds is that an Indian
tribe was simply a huge family, extended until it embraced hundreds or
even thousands of souls. In many cases organization never got beyond
the tribe. Not a few tribes stood alone and isolated. But among some
of the most advanced peoples, such as the Iroquois, the Creeks, and the
Choctaws, related tribes drew together and formed a confederacy or
league, for mutual help. The most famous league in Northern America
was that of the Iroquois. We shall describe it in the next chapter.
It deserves careful attention, both because of its deep historical
interest, and because it furnishes the best-known example of Indian
organization.

{27}

Chapter III

THE IROQUOIS LEAGUE

History of the League.--Natural Growth of Indian Government.--How
Authority was exercised, how divided.--Popular Assemblies.--Public
Speaking.--Community Life.

Originally the Iroquois people was one, but as the parent stock grew
large, it broke up into separate groups.

Dissensions arose among these, and they made war upon one another.
Then, according to their legend, Hayawentha, or Hiawatha, whispered
into