ntile_ council. The council of the tribe is composed of
the aggregated _gentile_ councils, and is thus composed of four-fifths
of women and one-fifth of men. The _sachem_ of tribes, or tribal-chief
is chosen by chiefs of the _gentes_. All civil government of the
_gens_ and of the tribe is carried on by these councils, and as the
women so largely outnumber the men, who are also--with the exception
of the tribal chief chosen by them--it is surely fair to assume that
the social government of the _gens_ and _tribe_ is largely directed by
them. In military affairs, however, the men have sole authority; there
is a military council of all the able-bodied men of the tribe, with a
military chief chosen by the council.[128] This seems a very wise
adjustment of civic duties; the constructive civil work directed by
the women; the destructive work of war in the hands of men.

Some interesting marriage customs of the Seri, on the south-west
coast, now reduced to a single tribe, are described by McGee.[129] The
matriarchal system exists here in its early form, it is, therefore, an
instructive example by which to estimate the position held by the
women--

"The tribe is divided into exogamous _totem_ clans. Marriage is
arranged exclusively by the women. The elder woman of the
suitor's family carries the proposal to the girl's clan-mother.
If this is entertained, the question of the marriage is
discussed at length by the matrons of the two clans. The girl
herself is consulted; a _jacal_ is erected for her, and after
many deliberations, the bridegroom is provisionally received
into his wife's clan for a year, under conditions of the most
exacting character. He is expected to prove his worthiness of a
permanent relation by demonstrating his ability as a provider,
and by showing himself an implacable foe to aliens. He is
compelled to support all the female relatives of his bride's
family by the products of his skill and industry in hunting and
fishing for one year. There is also another provision of a very
curious nature. The lover is permitted to share the jacal and
sleeping robe, provided for the prospective matron by her
kinswomen, not as a privileged spouse, but merely as a
protective companion; and throughout this probationary term he
is compelled to maintain continence--he must display the most
indubitable proof of moral force."

This is the more extra