day. [Footnote: "La dignite de chef est perpetuelle et hereditaire dans
sa Cabane, passant toujours aux enfans de ses tantes, de ses soeurs, on
de ses nieces du cote maternel. Des que l'arbre est tombe, il fault,
disent ils, le relever. La matrone, qui a la principale autorite, apres
en avoir confere avec ceux de sa Cabane, en confere de nouveau avec ceux
de sa Tribu [clan], a qui elle fait agreer oelui qu'elle a choisi pour
succeder, ce qui lui est assez libre. Elle n'a pas toujours egard au
droit d'ainesse, et d'ordinaire, elle prend celui qui paroit le plus
propre a soutenir ce rang par ses bonnes qualites."--_Lafitau: Maurs
des Savages Ameriquains_, p. 471.] If there are two or more members
of the family who seem to have equal claims, the nominating matron
sometimes declines to decide between them, and names them both or all,
leaving the ultimate choice to the nation or the federal council. The
council of the nation next considers the nomination, and, if
dissatisfied, refers it back to the family for a new designation. If
content, the national council reports the name of the candidate to the
federal senate, in which resides the power of ratifying or rejecting the
choice of the nation; but the power of rejection is rarely exercised,
though that of expulsion for good cause is not unfrequently exerted. The
new chief inherits the name of his predecessor. In this respect, as in
some others, the resemblance of the Great Council to the English House
of Peers is striking. As Norfolk succeeds to Norfolk, so Tekarihoken
succeeds Tekarihoken. The great names of Hiawatha and Atotarho are still
borne by plain farmer-councillors on the Canadian Reservation.

When the League was established, Hiawatha had been adopted by the
Canienga nation as one of their chiefs. The honor in which he was held
by them is shown by his position on the roll of councillors, as it has
been handed down from the earliest times. As the Canienga nation is the
"elder brother," the names of its chiefs are first recited. At the head