NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.               143

thle warriors-lay their hands on them, although they are
still their masters; and no one can multilate the prisoners
without their leave, which they seldom want; but this ex-
cepted, they have an entire liberty to make them suffer;
and if they lead them through several villages, either of the
same nation, or their neighbouri or allies who have desired,
they are received every where in the same manner.
  " After these preludes they set about the distribution of
the captives, and their fate depends on those to whom they
are delivered. At the rising of the council where they
have consulted of their fate, a crier invites all the people to
come to an open place,' where the distribution is made
without any noise or disturbance. The women who -have
lost their children or husbands in the wtar, generally receive
the first lot. In the next place they fulfil the promises
made to those who have given the collars. If there are
not captives enough for this purpose, they supply the want
of them by scalps, with Which those who receive them
adorn themselves on rejoicing days; and at other times
they hang them up at the doors of their cabins. On the
contrary, if the number of prisoners exceeds that of the
claimants, they send the overplus to the village of their
allies. A chief is not replaced but by a chief, or by two
or three-ordinary persons who are always burnt, although
those whom they replace had died of diseases.
  "sThe Iroquois never fail to set apart some of their prism
oners for the public, and these the council dispose of as
they think proper. But the mothers of families may set
aside their sentence, and are the mistresses of the life and
death even of those who have been condemned or absolved
by the council.',
  " In some nations the warriors do not entirely deprive
themselves of-the right of disposing of their captives, and
they to whon, the council give them are obliged to put
them again into their hands if they require it ; but they do
it very seldom; and when they do it they are obliged to
return the pledges or presents received from those persons.
If on their arrival they have declared their intentions on
this subject, it is seldom opposed. In general, the greatest
number Qf the prisoners of war are condemned to death, or