110 V SYNOPSIS OF THE INDIAN TRIBES. [iNTROD. bad altogether separated from the other, and was a distinct nation or tribe, and not a clan in the sense now under consider- ation. According to Mr. Johnston, the Shawnoes have four tribes, the Chillicothe, the Piqua, the Kiskapocoke, and the Mequachake. The first two, from having given names to dis- tinct towns, wonld seem to be living in separate places ; but the fact, that the Mequachake can alone perform the religious ceremonies of the nation, gives it the character of a clan. Whether the Totem, or family name of the Chippeways, descends in a regular manner, or is arbitrarily imposed by the father, has not been clearly explained. But Dr. James informs us, that no man is allowed to change his Totem, that it descends to all the children a man may have, and that the restraint upon inter- marriage which it imposes, is scrupulously regarded. " They profess to consider it highly criminal for a man to marry a woman whose Totem is the same as his own ; and they relate instances where young men, for a violation of this rule, have been put to death by their own nearest relatives," * But the Chippeways and kindred tribes are in this manner much more subdivided than the other Indians are into clans. Dr. James gives a catalogue of eighteen Totems, and says, that many more might be enumerated. The most direct testimony we have of the similarity, of the institution amongst the northern and southern Indians, is that of Loskiel, in his History of the Moravian Mission.f "The Del- awares and Iroquois never marry near relations. According to their own account, the Indian nations were divided into tribes for no other purpose, than that no one might ever either through temptation or mistake, marry a near relation, which at present is scarcely possible, for whoever intends to marry, must take a person of a different tribe." That a similar division existed amongst the Sioux tribes, had escaped former observers. But Dr. Say, who resided several weeks among the Omahaws, informs us, that they are divided into two great tribes, the Hongashano, and the Ishtasunda.J The first is divided into eight, and the other into five bands. Each of these derives its name from some animal, part of an animal, or other substance, which is considered as the peculiar sacred object, or medicine, as the Canadians call it, of each band respectively. The most ancient is that of the red maize ;
- Tanner's Narrative, p. 313. f Part I. Chap. v.
X Major Long's Expedition, Vol. I. Chap. xv.
