the origin of the distinction of ranks-第26节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
is females； to which no other male dared to approach； had acquired that distinguished pre…eminence by many bloody contests； as was evident from the numerous scars visible in all parts of his body。' In a herd of deer； the authority of the master…buck； founded upon his superior strength； is not less conspicuous。 4。 Judges； chap。 x； ver。 18 chap。 xi； ver。 1； etc。 5。 1 Samuel； chap。 x； ver。 23； 24。 6。 1 Samuel； chap。 xviii； ver。 6； 7。 7。 The admiration and respect derived from the possession of superior fortune； is very fully beautiful illustrated by the eloquent and ingenious author of the Theory of Moral Sentiments。 8。 Genesis； chap。 xx； ver。 9。 We read； however； of Abraham's buying a field for the particular purpose of a burying place； and of his having weighed； as the price； four hundred shekels of silver； current money with the merchant。 9。 That land is appropriated by tribes before it becomes the property of individuals； has been observed by Dr Stuart； in his acute dissertation concerning the antiquity of the English constitution。 10。 Tactitus； de mor。 Germ。 11。 Caesar； de bell。 Gall。 lib。 4； cap。 1。 12。 Obtorto collo。 13。 This is particularly the case among the Hurons and Natchez。 Journal historique d'un voyage de l'Amerique； par Charlevoix； let。 30。 Nouveaux voyages aux Indes orientales； tom。 1；； p。 42。 14。 'The authority of the Chiefs properly extends only over those members of their tribe whom they look upon as their children。。。。 Their power does not appear to have an absolute character； and they do not seem to have any way of compelling obedience in case of resistance。 Nevertheless obedience is rendered them； and they command with authority； ＇even though＇ their commands have the force merely of requests； and the obedience rendered them appears entirely voluntary。。。。 Although the Chiefs except in a few particular instances bear no outward marks of distinction or of superiority； so much so that one cannot distinguish them from the people by any honours one needs to render them； there is yet no lack of a certain respect paid them。 It is； however； on public occasions； above all； that their dignity is exalted。 The councils assemble on their orders； the meeting being held in their ＇the Chiefs'＇ homes （cabanes） unless there is available a public hall； like our City Halls； specially set aside for council meetings； business is conducted in their name； they preside at all kinds of meeting； they have a considerable part in festive occasions and in the general distributions。。。。 For fear that the Chiefs might usurp too much authority； and try to take on unlimited powers； they are 'bridled' as it were； by the assignment to them of coadjutants （Adjoints） who share with them the sovereignty over the land； and these are called Agoianders by them。。。。 Next in authority to the Agoianders is the Senate； composed of senior members of the community of Elders； called in their language Agokstenha： the number of these senators is not a fixed one any one has the right to enter this council to give it his vote。' ＇Millar should have continued the quotation to include； 'whenever he has achieved the maturity of years； understanding and knowledge of affairs that would make him deserving of this privilege； etc。'＇ P。 Jos。 Fr。 Lafitau； Moeurs des sauvages Ameriquains； 4to ？Paris； 1724； tom。 i； pp。 472…475 ＇4 vol。 ed。； also Paris； 1724； tom。 ii； pp。 173…6＇。 15。 'Responsibility for dealing with criminal affairs belong immediately to those of the kin…group ＇cabane＇ of the guilty parties； with respect to ＇out of regard for？＇ the guilty themselves； when anyone has killed a fellow member of his own kin…group。 As it is assumed that the right over life and death belong to the parties mutually involved； the village appears not to be concerned with the disorder which has arisen。。。。 The matter takes on an entirely different character； however； when murder has been committed involving a member of another cabane； of another tribe or village； or even more； of a foreign nation； for then this death by violence becomes the concern of the entire community。 Everyone takes sides with the deceased； and this contributes； in a manner； toward the restitution of the spirit such is their expression to the relatives aggrieved by the loss which they have sustained。 All are at the same time interested in saving the life of the offender and in protecting his relatives from the vengeance of the others； which would not fail to break out sooner or later if one had failed to make the proper satisfaction prescribed for such cases by their laws and by their customs。 There are； however； occasions where the crime is considered so heinous that one is no longer concerned with the protection of the murderer； and the Council； using its supreme authority； takes pains to effect his punishment。' Ibid。 pp。 486 f。； 490； 495 ＇respectively II； pp。 185 f。； 189； 193；＇ Also； tom。 2； p。 167 ＇III； pp。 154 f。＇ ＇Translations my own。 Ed。＇ See also the view which is given of the state of government among the Americans； by P。 Charlevoix； Journal historique d'un voyage de l'Amerique； let。 13； 18。 16。 'The Arabian tribes； though they have been for many ages under the Turkish yoke； are justice； or in the succession to rarely interrupted； either in what may concern the course of those few offices and dignities that belong properly to themselves。 Every Dou…war （i。e。 village or encampment） therefore may be looked upon as a little principality； over which it is usual for that particular family； which is of the greatest name； substance； and reputation； to preside。 However； this honour does not always lineally descend from father to son； but； as it was among their predecessors the Numidians； when the heir is too young； or subject to any infirmity； then they make choice of the uncle； or some other relation； who； for prudence and wisdom； is judged to be the fittest for that employ。 Yet； notwithstanding the despotic power which is lodged in this person； all grievances and disputes are accommodated in as amicable a manner as possible； by calling to his assistance one person or two out of each tent： and as the offender is considered as a brother； the sentence is always given on the favourable side； and even in the most enormous crimes； rarely any other punishment is inflicted than banishment。' Shaw's Travels； chap。 4； p。 310。 17。 'They take their kings on the ground of birth； their generals on the basis of courage： the authority of their kings is not unlimited or arbitrary； their generals control them by example rather than command； and by means of admiration which attends upon energy and a conspicuous place in front of the line。' Tacitus； de mor。 Germ。 ？7。 'On small matters the chiefs consult； on larger questions； the community； but with this limitation； that even the subjects； the decision of which rests with the people； are first handled by the chiefs。。。。 When the crowd is pleased to begin they take their seats carrying arms。 Silence is called for by the priests； who thenceforward have power also to coerce： then a king or a chief is listened to； in order of age； birth； glory in war； or eloquence； with the prestige which belongs to their counsel rather than with any prescribed right to command。' Ibid。 ？11。 'At this assembly it is also permissible to lay accusations and to bring capital charges。 The nature of the death penalty differs according to the offence： traitors and deserters are hung from trees； cowards and poor fighters and notorious evil…livers are plunged into the mud of marshes with a hurdle on their heads。。。。 At the same gatherings are selected chiefs； who administer law through the cantons and villages： each of them has one hundred assessors from the people to be his responsible advisers。' Ibid。 ？12。 'On the declaration of war a high command is set up and invested with powers over life and death； but in peace…time there is no central government。 Justice is administered and disputes settled by various local chiefs。。。。 When a chieftain formally proclaims his intention of leading a raid； he calls for volunteers： those who approve the project and trust the man himself stand up and promise their support amid loud applause from the whole assembly。 Any one who goes back on that promise is considered a deserter and a traitor； and no one ever trusts him again。' Caesar； de bell。 Gall。 lib。 6； ？23。 Chapter IV The authority of a Sovereign； and of subordinate officers； over a society composed of different tribes or villages Section I The constitution of government arising from the union of different tribes or villages The improvement of agriculture； as it increases the quantity of provisions； and renders particular tribes more numerous and flourishing； so it obliges them at length to send out colonies to a distance； who occupy new seats wherever they can find a convenient situation； and are formed into separate villages； after the model of those with which they are acquainted。 Thus； in proportion as a country is better cultivated； it comes to be inhabited by a greater number of distinct societies； whether derived from the same or from a different original； agreeing in their manners； and resembling each other in their institutions and customs。 These different communities being frequently at war； and bein
