OF RANKS*

13.5

CHAP. III.

The authority of a Chief over the members of atribe or village.

SECTION I.

The origin of a Chief , and the degrees of infitenccwhich he is enabled to acquire.

H A VI N G confidered the primitive flate of afamily during the life of the father, we may nowexamine the changes which happen in their fitua-tion , upon the death of this original governor,and the dilferent fpecies of authority to whichthey are then commonly fubjected.

When the members of a family become toonumerous to be all maintained and lodged in thefame houfe, fome of them are under the neceffityof leaving it., and providing themfelves with anew habitation. The fons, having arrived at theage of manhood, and being difpofed to marry,are led by degrees to have a feparate refidence,where they may live in a more comfortable man-ner. They build their huts very near one toanother, and each of them forms a diftin£t family;of which he affumes the direction , and which heendeavours to fupply with the means of fubfift-ence. Thus the original fociety is gradually enlargedinto a village or tribe; and according as it is