[HALE] AN IROQUOIS CONDOLING COUNCIL 39 
They must always bear in mind that the Council was constituted for the 
good of the whole confederacy. They should put aside all thoughts of 
self in their public acts, and should think only of the good of the whole 
people, and not merely of the people who were now living, but also of 
those who would come after them. If they acted on this principle, they 
would find, when they arrived at the close of their labours, that they had 
won the gratitude and affection of their people, and, more than this, 
those who came after them would bless their memory. 
These sentiments, modern and democratic as they seem, are in precise 
accordance with the Book of Rites, especially in its Onondaga portion, and 
are doubtless in substance the same exhortations to which newly inducted 
members of the Council have listened from time immemorial. When the 
speaker had closed his fatherly admonitions, the new members took their 
seats among the chiefs of the senior nations, and the business of the 
Council was concluded. 
Chief Skanawati presently arose and remarked that the banquet 
would soon be forthcoming, and if, in the meantime, any person present 
desired to address the assembly, an opportunity was now offered. I felt 
tolerably certain that the occasion would be improved, for these Indians, 
like my New England compatriots and the Scotch, have an insatiable 
desire for making and hearing addresses on moral questions and things in 
general. Presently an Onondaga chief, Johnson Williams (Tehatkwara- 
yen), a middle-aged man, with a clear-cut, intellectual countenance, and 
a self-possessed and somewhat humorous expression, arose and remarked 
that if some of the younger people present were becoming a little impatient 
it did not at all surprise him. As everyone knew that after the feast 
there would be a dance, it was natural to suppose that the young men 
and maidens would look forward to it with more satisfaction than they 
had received from the impressive speeches they had just heard. A mur- 
mur of laughter which ran along the front benches showed that the 
speaker had here made a hit. He warned them, however, that they 
should be careful to conduct all their amusements with moderation and 
propriety. Especially they should see that no strong liquors were intro- 
duced. It would be contrary to their laws, and a great injury to the 
cause of order and morality. He hoped that if any ill-minded person 
should attempt such a thing, whoever knew of it would take care to have 
him exposed and punished. He added some further words of exhortation, 
which were received, like all the other speeches, with silent attention, and 
he took his seat as the heralds of the feast appeared. 
These were two strong young men, who bore on their shoulders a 
stout pole, to which were suspended, between them, two large iron kettles, 
that sent forth an appetizing odour. These kettles contained the ‘corn- 
soup,” or broth of Indian corn, in which the meat had been boiled. One 
of the kettles was set on the floor at each end of the hall. Two other 
