American Antiquities.

OF HUDSON'S RIVER.

/

their

Though emigrating at first in small

permanent abode.

numbers, the great body of the nation at last settled on the four great rivers, Delaware, Hudson, Susquehanna and Potomac, and kindled their council-fire in the centre of their possessions.

Here they became

so

numerous that their descendants were

compelled to separate from them in branches, so that nearly a title forty tribes honored them with the title of grandfather -,

which some of them continue to apply to the present day. 2 In the government of the Lenapes the perfect liberty of the people was the fundamental law, and absolute unanimity the more per only recognized expression of the popular will. fect system of checks and balances the wisdom of civilized

nations has not devised;

They were divided in three tribes, the

Unami, the Unalachto, and the Minsi, or the Turtle, the Turkey, and the Wolf. Each tribe had its chief and each chief his counselors, the latter composed either of experienced warriors or aged and respectable fathers of families. In times of peace

nothing could

be done

without the

The

consent of the

council

were required to keep unanimously expressed. and to in all decide good order, quarrels and disputes ; but they had no power to command, compel, or punish ; their only mode chiefs

of government was persuasion and exhortation, and in departing from that mode they were deposed by the simple form of for saking them.

The constant restraint which they were under