Tribe

Tribe, an aggregate of stocks—a stock being an aggregate of persons considered to be kindred—or an aggregate of families, forming a community usually under the government of a chief. The chief is possessed of despotic power over the members of the tribe, which is one of the earliest forms of the community among all the races of men. The discussion of the origin of tribes will be found in the article FAMILY; see also MARRIAGE, CLAN, and the articles on peoples, such as the American Indians, whose organisation is tribal (cf. IROQUOIS).