Secrion II., 1911. [195] Trans. R. S. C. 
Traditional History of the Confederacy of the Six Nations. 
Prepared by a Committee of the Chiefs. 
Presented by Duncan C. Scorr, F.R.S.C. 
Read May 16, 1911. 
(The introductory remarks that follow explain why the myths 
concerning the formation of the Iroquois League were compiled and 
recorded by the Six Nations of the Grand River. A Committee of 
Chiefs was engaged for some time on the work, and the result of their 
labours was approved by the Council of the Six Nations on the 3rd July, 
1900. The document is printed as it came from their hands and bears 
witness to the degree of proficiency in the use of English to which many 
of them have attained. The typewritten manuscript was prepared by 
one of the Indians, and the whole work from its shadowy basis of legend 
to its mechanical execution is a native production. ‘‘The ancient 
rites of Condoling Council” is taken from Horatio Hale’s work “The 
Iroquois Book of Rites’, but it is not the less a production of the 
Canadian Six Nations. Hale, in his third chapter, acknowledged his 
debt to members of the Confederacy, who translated the words of the 
ceremony. 
The beginning of the Condolence Ceremony is not printed in Hale’s 
work, but its form is similar to that of the Onondaga book, printed 
therein, and a like refrain, “Thus we say and do, we four brothers,” 
ends each section of both works, and their close, ‘‘Now point out to me 
the man,” is almost identical.—D. C. 8.) 
INTRODUCTION. 
For several hundred years the Five Nations (since 1715 called the 
Six Nations) have existed without a written history chronicled by 
themselves, of their ancient customs, rites and ceremonies, and the 
formation of the Iroquois League. Books have been written by white 
men in the past, but these have been found to be too voluminous and 
inaccurate in some instances. 
Of the existence of the Five Nations before the formation of the 
League of Great Peace by De-ka-nah-wi-deh, living as they did apart 
from each other as separate nations and having nothing in common, 
much might be written, but space and time at this juncture will only 
