48 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
American aboriginal tribes incapable of competing with the whites in the 
arts of cultured life. 
July 16th, 1883.—This morning I received a letter from my good 
friend, Mrs. Johnson of Chiefswood, informing me that the Condoling 
Council, after many postponements, was finally fixed to take place to-mor- 
row. Istarted by the early afternoon train for Onondaga station, where 
I had a pleasant greeting from my young friends, Misses Eva and Pauline. 
I drove with them to Chiefswood, and met the usual cordial reception. 
The chief was in the field, assisting his tenant with the hay, but promptly 
made his appearance. He had just received word from Col. Gilkison that 
his services as interpreter and secretary would to-morrow be required 
elsewhere on the Reserve about some important public business, and he 
will therefore be unable to accompany me to the Onondaga ‘“‘Long- House,” 
where the council is to be held; but as this will not commence until noon, 
he hopes to join me there early enough in the afternoon to give me all 
necessary help in the way of explanations. ; 
July 17th—Soon after eleven I started with old Peter —a good- 
natured old Mohawk who helps about Chiefswood as hostler and facto- 
tum. We drove eastward along the south bank of the Grand River, 
which is now full from the recent rains, and is a noble stream. The 
country wore its most attractive aspect—the trees in full foliage, the : 
crops and meadows luxuriant. After passing the Middleport Ferry we 
turned southward toward the centre of the Reserve. I remarked the 
usual signs of improvement which I observe at every visit—new buildings, 
the fences and fields in better condition, in one place a large brick school- 
house lately completed, in another a row of young trees planted for a 
quarter of a mile along the roadside fence. On the farms substantial 
frame and log-houses alternate, and there are some good barns—on one 
farm two of these buildings, with a general air of thrift and good cul- 
tivation. Turning out of the main road, down a winding track, through 
low trees and bushes, we came to a small clearing, in which several wag- 
gons stood, with horses tethered. At a little distance the Onondaga 
Long House appeared on an eminence beyond. 
Fastening our horse in the shade of a tree, with a good supply of 
newly-cut hay, we took the path over a style and up the acclivity to the 
Council House. On approaching it we found a little group of men seated 
on the sward, among whom I distinguished the pleasant features of my 
friend, Chief John Buck (Skanawati), and the grave aspect of my old 
Clinton acquaintance, John Fraser, now a high chief of the Mohawk 
nation, with a sesquipedalian title which I remembered. Taking a place 
beside them, I greeted them by their Indian titles, which called forth 
good-humoured smiles from the circle. Just then a rather tall, slender 
young man, well dressed, and with a highly intelligent countenance, whose 
features, complexion and manner might have enabled him to pass for a 
