This section is from the book "The Book Of Woodcraft", by Ernest Thompson Seton. Also available from Amazon: The Book of Woodcraft.
The Tally Book is the record of the Band's doings. It should be kept like the proceedings of any other society. The Tally Keeper who is an artist has a great advantage, as a few sketches and photographs thrown in make a most interesting variation.
Some of these Tally Books are beautifully illustrated with colored drawings and are highly prized. In some cases each member has added his thumb mark in printer's ink opposite his name when first entered.
The first page of the Tally Book should bear an inscription thus:
For Example. The next page should say for example: On the First day of the Snow Moon (January) of 1910, the following assembled at No. 139 Tenth Avenue, to form a Band of Indians.
Jas. Cameron as their Old Guide, John Smith Peter Petro.
Jas. O'Brien Sam Selig.
Patrick Keenan John June.
Robert Junk.
(The address of each added).
It was agreed that the regular order of business should be followed in all business meetings: The Old Guide takes the chair, or in his absence, or at his request, the Chief of the Band takes the chair and the meeting goes as follows:
Read the Tally of the last meeting Report of Scouts Left-over business Complaints Honors.
New Braves New business Studies.
Social doings, songs, dances, stories Adjournment.
8th Sun Snow Moon, 1910. Second meeting of Band.
The Band assembled at 1149 East 9th St., the home of Sam Selig. At 7 o'clock the meeting was opened with Guide Cameron in the chair.
The following also present: Smith, O'Brien, Keenan, Junk, Petro, and June.
First the Old Guide announced that the Mohawks of Manhattan were not willing to take us in as a Band of their Tribe, as they had already 50 members.
Next the following were examined, passed and duly sworn in as Indian Boys: Smith, O'Brien, Keenan, Junk, and June. This took in all the Band except two. It was decided therefore to go ahead and complete the organization. After discussion it was agreed to call this the "THUNDER BAND OF MANHATTAN (unattached)," its Totem and colors to be a red thunder-bolt on a black circle in the middle of the white flag; our War Cry is to be: Rumble, Rumble, Thunder, Bang, Crash-sh-sh, beginning low and rising higher and stronger to the Bang then dying away on the sh-sh.
A resolution to call it the "Bowery Pirates" was voted down, as was the suggestion to call it the "Yellow Dogs" - in spite of the fact that O'Brien could lead with a fine imitation of a small dog in deep trouble. Keenan said it was better than the dog could do it.
Smith was elected Chief for one year. He appointed Keenan as his Second and Petro as his Tally Keeper.
The rest of the time was spent teaching the laws to the other two and in taking the first lesson in Sign Language.
The Old Guide gave us the Laws in a shorter form:
 
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