Mi-rrALi-n; imit.kmeints ov mow V(>i:k ixdians r,l 



latter reiuovcd llicir town soon jiI'Icm*, [in«l wlicn ('orlacr visited 

 (hem in DcfcnilxM*. 1.(l.*)4, ti cliict lold liini thai '' tlic Frenclmien 

 liad coiiK' tliilhci' to trade with six men, and had j^iven iiini ^uod 

 ,i»ifts, because they liad been trading in tliis river wilii six iikti 

 in (lie niontli of Aiigjist of this y<nir. We saw very good axes 

 to ent the underwood." They saw razors also. 



Ill I his case il is i|uite lU'obable liiat by tlie river they ineanl 

 the St J^awrence, rather than any stream in (lie ((mnlry of lh<* 

 Oneidas. It was easy to misunderstand. 



In the pictures accompanyiug the account of the nine Iroquois 

 tribes or cUms in l(>(i(>, the Turtk; and the lieaver carry the typi- 

 cal trade ax, but the Eagle has a hatchet expanding eipially on 

 each side. Wooden clubs were at first called tomahawks, but 

 after a time axes were known by this name. Taking up and lay- 

 ing down the hatchet became terms for war and peace, modihed 

 to <suit the occasion. According to Golden, the expression was 

 enforced by acts at times. He relates the proceedings at a 

 council in Albany in IGSi. Speeches and explanations had been 

 made to avert hostilities. "• Then the axes were buried in the 

 southeast end of the courtyard, and the Indians threw the earth 

 upon I hem." The council was really held in 1G81. 



When war was unsuccessful the Indians said the ax was poor 

 or broken, and some battles have been known by this name. 

 Axes were figured on or attached to war belts. In 1GU2 Tata- 

 conicere, an Oneida at a French mission post in Canada, learned 

 that the wife of the Onondaga chief. Black Kettle, was trying to 

 escape. He at once killed her, and '* struck his hatcliet into the 

 gate as a sign that he would not grant pardon to any one." Old 

 documents and speeches are full of these symbolic uses. 



In his camp at Onondaga lake, July 2, 175G, Sir William John- 

 son made a remarkable speech of this kind to the Indians assem- 

 bled there. He had advised them to return the French hatchet 

 and had sharpened their own by a belt. To this they had made a 

 suitable response and waited his further pleasure. He said: 



Brethren — two days ago you returned me thanks for sharpen- 

 ing your own Hatchet and said you had found mine last year at 

 Oswego was not good. I told you then that I had some weapons 



