s not exist in all tribes. But,
as it was present among the Mexicans, we must learn what we can of its
powers. Among the Iroquois the phratry was apparent chiefly in religious
matters, and in social games. They did not elect any war-chief. The
Mexican phratry was largely concerned with military matters. The forces
of each phratry went out to war as separate divisions. They had their
own costumes and banners. The four phratries chose each their war-chief,
who commanded their forces in the field, and who, as commander, was the
superior of the war-chiefs of the gentes.

In time of peace, they acted as the executors of tribal justice. They
belonged to the highest grade of war-chiefs in Mexico--but there was
nothing hereditary about their offices. They were strictly elective, and
could be deposed for cause. They were in no case appointed by a higher
authority. One of these chiefs was always elected to fill the office
of "Chief of Men;"<16> and, in cases of emergency, they could take his
place--but this would be only a temporary arrangement.

Ascending the scale, the next term of the series is the tribe. The
Spanish writers took notice of a tribe, but failed to notice the gens
and phratry. This is not to be considered a singular thing. The Iroquois
were under the observation of our own people two hundred years before
the discovery was made in reference to them. "The existence among them
of clans, named after animals, was pointed out at an early day, but
without suspecting that it was the unit of a social system upon which
both the tribe and the confederacy rested."<17> But, being ignorant of
this fact, it is not singular that they made serious mistakes in their
description of the government.

We now know that the Mexican tribe was composed of an association of
twenty gentes, that each of these gens was an independent unit, and that
all of its members stood on an equal footing. This, at the outset, does
away with the idea of a monarchy. Each gens would, of course, have an
equal share in the government. This was effected by means of a council
composed of delegates from each gens. There is no doubt whatever of the
existence of this council among the Mexicans. "Every tribe in Mexico and
Central America, beyond a reasonable doubt, had its council of chiefs.
It was the governing body of the tribe, and a constant phenomenon in
all parts of aboriginal America."<18> The Spanish writers knew of the
existence of this council, but mist