voices make confusion. We must have onefire,
one pipe, and one war club. This will give us
strength. If our warriors are united, they can
defeat the enemy, and drive them from our land.
If' we do this, we are -safe. '
Onondaga,-you‘are. thepeople sitting under the
shadow of the Great Tree, whose roots sink deep
in the earth, and whose branches spread, wide
around. You shall be the first nation, because
you are warlike and mighty.
Oneóta, and you the people who recline your
bodies against the Everlasting Stone, that cannot
be moved, .shall be the second nation, hecahse
you always give wise counsel.
---- and you the people who have your habitations
at the foot of the Great Mountain, and
are overshadowed by its crags, shall be the third
nation, / because you are all greatly gifted in
speech.
——, and you the people whose dwelling is
in the Dark Forest, and whose home is every
where, shall be the fourth nation, because of
your superior cunning in hunting.
-----•, and you the people who live in the Open
Country, and possess much wisdom, shall be the
fifth nation, because you understand better the
art of raising corn and beans, and making cabins.
You Five great and powerful nations, with
your tribes, must unite and have one common
interest, and no foes shall disturb or subdue you.
—----, you the people who are as the < Feeble
Bushes, and you,----- , who are a Fishing People,
may place yourselves under our protection, and
We will defend you. And you of the south, and
you of the west, may do the same, and we will
protect; you. We earnestly desire the alliance
and friendship of you all.
Brothers: If we unite in this bond, the Great
Spirit will smile upon us, and we shall te free,
prosperous and happy; but if we remain as we
are, We shall be subject to His frown. We shall
be enslaved, rained, perhaps annihilated,forever.
We may perish, and our names be lost forever.
Brothers: These are the words.of Hiawatha.
Bet them sink deep in your hearts. 1 have said
it,” -
A deep and impressive silence followed the
delivery of this speech. On the following day
the council assembled to act on it. Deliberation
had recommended it, as founded in high wisdom.
The union of the tribes into one confederacy
was discussed and unanimously adopted. To
denote the character and intimacy of the union,
they employed the figure of a single council
house, or lodge, whose boundaries were coextensive
with their territories. Hence the name
of Aquinushioni, who were called Iroquois by
the French.
- The great bird which fell from heaven, brought
a . precious gift to the warriors, in the white
plumes which covered it. Every warrior, as he
approached the spot where it fell, plucked a
feather of snowy whiteness to adorn his brows;
and the celestial visitant thus became the means
3?