Speaking of the succession of kings, " The din of ihe Schoolcraft remarks chief's oldest sister was the chief pre:

sum ptive. Such was the Iroquois rule when King Hendrik fell at the battle of Lake George 5 he had a son of mature age, who made use of the memorable expres" sion, on hearing his father's death, No, he is not dead, but lives here," striking his breast. Yet he did not succeed his father

Mohawk chieftaincy.

in

the

his

sister's

and politic

It fell to

mother were

supplied by the election of Joseph Brant,

an entirely new man in the line of chiefs, It was the wise policy of Sir Wm. Johnson and his son, to lay the greatest stress on his tribal authority, and to strengthen it by every means, as the best and most direct way of exercising an influence over the tribes." (Hist. Indian Tribes, part iv, In Colonial History, vin, 53, Abra481). ham' is, said to have been the great Hendrik's brother, not a son of the sister of

son,

Little

Abraham, a mild

that chief, as stated by Schoolcraft.

chief,

who

died

he was not the less the legitimate sucat the era of

the opening of the American revolution, On this, there was a vacancy which was

cessor to the throne.

But

HUDSON RWER INDIANS.

then temporarily residing, and where his father soon after died. His mother, on her return to Canajoharie, married an Indian Carrihogo, or News Carrier, whose Christian name was Barnet or Bernard, which was subsequently contracted into Brant, by which name his step-son was also known, being first called