re upon a perfect footing of
cordiality and never incite to or permit the shedding of blood, or even
a conflict between their tribes.

If upon the death of an Elder there happens to be two or more brothers
still living the oldest one succeeds him, and should any
misunderstanding eventually arise between them, or should the number of
those composing the village become too great, the other emigrates to a
far off corner of the forest, followed by all the families which are, in
a direct line, closely related to him, thus forming the nucleus of a new
Sakai village which never exceeds a few hundreds of inhabitants.

In the plains, however, a great many families may be found living
together in the same village, sometimes even to three thousand persons.

But it is not here that one is able to study and observe the habits and
customs of the genuine Sakais.

Notwithstanding the practice of living in groups, one family isolated
from the other, fraternity of race is very profoundly felt and if
to-morrow a common danger should be menaced they would all unite like
one man to resist and overcome it, besides being always ready to help
each other in time of need.

* * * * *

Not many degrees of relationship are recognized by the Sakai.

The male and female children of the same father and mother are
considered, as with us, brothers and sisters, but also the sons and
daughters of brothers (who among us would only be cousins) are classed
the same and call all their uncles "father".

That established for the descendants of females is quite different, and
this is natural because the girls of one village marry into another.

The children of a woman are supposed to bear no relationship to those of
their mother's brothers and very little attention is paid to that which
exists between them and their uncles.

Sisters' children are considered brothers instead of cousins, and the
aunts are all called mothers, even when they live in other villages.

The wives of brothers call themselves sisters and are known by the name
of "mother" by their nephews and nieces but sisters' husbands have no
claim to relationship, other than that of cordial friendship.

Grandchildren give the title of "father" also to their grandfather and
great-grandfather and that of "mother" to their grandmother so that
these two words which have such a sacred significance to us, to the
Sakais are but common appellations.

No tie whateve