The Life of Indian Tribes (1679)

By the time the first European travellers on the American continent began to record some of their observations about Indians, the Cherokee people had developed an advanced culture that probably was exceeded only by the civilized tribes of the Southwest: Mayan and Aztec groups. The social structures of the Cherokee people consisted of a form of clan kinship in which there were seven recognized clans. All members of a clan were considered blood brothers and sisters and were bound by honour to defend any member of that clan from wrong. Each clan was represented in the civil council by a councillor. The chief of the tribe was selected from one of these clans and did not inherit his office from his kinsmen. Actually there were two chiefs, a Peace chief and War chief. The Peace chief served when the tribe was at peace, but the minute war was declared, the War chief was in command.

The Dakota Indians lived on the grassy plains and were famous hunters. They hunted buffaloes that wandered in herds over the plains. In order to keep meat from spoiling, they cut it into thin strips, dried it in the sun and smoked it over the fire. Buffalo skins were cut and used for warm clothes in winter. The clothes of the Dakotas looked very beautiful. They had special head-dresses which they kept for important occasions. These head-dresses were decorated with eagle feathers. Each feather in the head-dress stood for a brave deed that its owner had done.

The Seneca tribe lived in big forests. The Seneca men were famous hunters and warriors. All Indian warriors were taught from the time they were small boys to face danger bravely and never to show fear. They practiced swimming, running, wrestling and even doing without food. In the woods the Indian hunters hid near a path that deer had made. They had to be very quiet and patient when they were waiting for a deer to come. Deer were very important for the tribe. The Senecas used deer for many things beside food. They made clothes out of the hide and arrow-heads out of the antlers.

Check your comprehension.

1. What are the most famous American Indian tribes? 2. What were the Cherokee people famous for? 3. What Indian tribes exceeded other tribes in culture? 4. How did the chief of an Indian tribe come to power? 5. Was there only one chief in the Cherokee tribe? 6. Where did the Dakota Indians live? 7. What was there way of living? 8. How did they preserve meat from spoiling? 9. What did they use eagle feathers for? 10. Which Indian tribe hunted deer and used them for many things?

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