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-14-

in the courts....

Early in life the abilities of Iron Eye were recognized by the wise and statesman-like old head chief, Big Elk...Big Elk had a son who, according to Indian custom, would inherit the head chieftanship, but he was a child and of a weak physical constitution.  The old chief knew that the great transformation which was before his boy would arrive at mature years, and he resolved that Iron Eye should take the head chieftainship and pilot the tribe through that dangerous period....He therefore sent by the officer, whose duty it was to carry it, the tobacco bag to Iron Eye, who received it with all the formalities prescribed on such occasions.

Then Big Elk "pipe danced" Iron Eye's wife (this occurred two years after her marriage).  By this ceremony, Big Elk adopted Iron Eye as his son, and announced by the public crier that he had done so.  Then in public, in the presence of Iron Eye, Big Elk further declared...that Iron Eye was his "oldest" son and that he wished Iron Eye to inherit the chieftanship from him.

After this he caused Iron Eye to give four ceremonial feasts, which the Indian customs required when one was declared the inheritor of the chieftanship.

At these foasts all the chiefs and all the members of the tribe assented, for they all loved Iron Eye for his generosity and kindness to the tribe, respected his ability