28 JOnN ERADE ON THE LITERAEY FACULTY 



mise. Not the wise aud gentle Hiawatha, but the self-willed aud iiuscrupulous Atotarho, 

 was made the chief of the confederacy. His badness aud Hiawatha's goodness entered 

 the region of fable, but the spirit of the league, in the formation of which they were pro- 

 minent actors, survived for centuries. 



But what has this to do with a native literature ? It happens that the most authentic 

 and most interesting of the evidences of literary ability among the North American 

 Indians is found in the " Book of Eites ", which Mr. Hale has published in full with a 

 literal translation and copious comments. The English missionaries taught their Indian 

 pupils to write in their own language. As early as 1*714, the Anglican Prayer-book was 

 translated into the Mohawk tongue. The covincil chiefs saw that it would be well to 

 preserve in the same way their own traditions and ceremonies. One of them, David, a 

 friend of Brant, perhaps David of Schoharie, who fought with Sir W. Johnson against 

 the French in lt5*7, undertook the task. In 1832, Chief Johnson went to A'isit another 

 chief, then ill of cholera, aud the aged host told his visitor of an important book that he 

 had in his possession and suggested that he should copy it. Johnson did so, only omit- 

 ting, as he afterwards regretted, what referred to the later history of the Six Nations 

 after their removal to Canada. Soon after, the old chief's house was burned aud the 

 volume perished with it. A second copy Mr. Hale subsequently obtained from Chief 

 John Buck. A further portion, or supplement of the book, was found with a small rem- 

 nant of the once powerful Onondagas, near Syracuse, New York. 



In his translation, Mr. Hale had the assistance of the two chiefs Johnson, father and 

 son, of the Rev. Mr. Bearfoot, Onondaga by birth, Canienga by adoption, an educated 

 man and the pastor of a white Anglican congregation. To be estimated at its true ethno- 

 nologic and literary value, the " Book of Rites " should be read throughout, with Mr. Hale's 

 introdi^ction and comments. Its full name is "The Ancient Rites of the Condoling 

 Council." This council held a peculiarly high rank in the Iroquois political system. 

 " Among the many councils," says Mr. Hale, " civil and religious, tribal and federal, in 

 which the public spirit and social temper of the Iroquois found their most congenial and 

 most popular mode of display, the Yondennase, or Condoling Coiincil, held the highest 

 rank. It was, in a certain way, typical of the whole, and comprised the elements of all 

 the other councils." {The Iroquois Book of Rites, edited by Horatio Hale, p. 481). At it took 

 place, not only a public lamentation, but the great elective act of the league. It was, 

 therefore, like a state funeral and a presidential election combined. The summoned chiefs 

 approaching the place of meeting, the opening formalities began, " at the edge of the 

 woods," (which circumstance gave its name to the preliminary ceremony), where a fire was 

 kindled, the calumet lit, and an address of welcome pronounced. The greeting touches 

 on the sad loss sustained, on sorrow for the dead, on the need of union, aud on the dangers 

 of the joui'ney, — "thorny ways, falling trees and wild beasts lying in ambush." The list 

 of nations is gone over, with their towns aud various clans. Then there is a hymn, 

 bidding hail to the league, the kindred, the warriors, and the women, and ending with 

 the words, "My forefathers, hearken to them ! " This, Mr. Hale terms the national anthem 

 of the Iroquois. All through the condolence occurs the contrast between the great and 

 wise of the past and their degenerate successors. It closes with a sort of chanted litany 

 to those who were " rulers and founders." The following passage from it is arranged for 

 singing and will give some notion of the spirit and poetic tenor of the dirge : 



