48() MYTHS OF THE CHICROKEE [kth.ann.19 



tribes. "During the wlmle session the utmost good feeling and liarniony prevailed. 

 The business was brought to a close at sundown, after which the various tribes 

 joined in dancing, which was usually kept up to a late hour." The wampum belt 

 was .explained, according to Stanley's account, by Major George Lowrey (Agi'tl, 

 "Rising"), second chief of the Nation, who tlius recited the tradition of its coming 

 from the Seneca [i. e. Iroquois]. The talk abounds in Indian reference and sym- 

 bolism: 



"You will now hear a talk from our forefathers. You nmst not think hard if we 

 make a few mistakes in describing our wampmn. If we do, we will try and rectify 

 them. 



"My Brothers, you will now hear what our forefathers said to us. 



"In the first place, the Senecas, a great many years ago, devised a plan for ns to 

 become friends. AVhen the plan was first laid, the Seneca rose up and said, I fear 

 the Cherokee, because the tomahawk is stuck in several parts of his head. The 

 Seneca afterwards remarked, that he saw the tomahawk still sticking in all parts of 

 the Cherokee's head, and heard him whoojiing and hallooing say [.f/c] that he was 

 too strong to die. The Seneca further said. Our warriors in old times used to go to 

 war; when they did go, they always went to fight the Cherokees; sometimes one or 

 two would return home — sometimes none. He further .oaid. The Great Spirit must 

 love the Cherokees, and we must be in the wrong, going to war with them. The 

 Seneca then said, Suppose we make friends with the Cherokee, and wash his wounds 

 and cause them to heal up, that he may grow larger than he was before. The 

 Seneca, after thus speaking, sat down. The Wyandot then rose and said, Y^ou have 

 done right, and let it be. I am your youngest brother, and you our oldest. This 

 word was told to the Shawnees; They replied, We are glad, let it be; you are our 

 elder brothers. The Senecas then said, they would go about and praj' to the Great 

 Spirit for four years to assist them in making peace, and that they would set aside a 

 vessel of water and cover it, and at the end of every year they would take the cover 

 off, and examine the water, which they did; every time they opened it they found 

 it was changed; at the end of four years they uncovered the vessel and found that 

 the water had changed to a colour that suited them. The Seneca then said. The 

 Great Spirit has had mercy upon us, and the thing has taken place just as we 

 wished it. 



"The Shawnee then said, We will make straight paths; but let us make peace 

 among our neighbouring tribes first, before we make this path to those afar off. 



"The Seneca then said. Before we make peace, we must give our neighboring tribes 

 some fire; for it will not do to make peace without it, — they might be traveling about, 

 and run against each other, and probably cause them to hurt each other. These 

 three tribes said, before making peace, that this fire which was to be given to them 

 should be kindled in order that a big light may be raised, so they may .see each other 

 at a long distance; this is to last so long as the earth stands; They said further, that 

 this law of peace shall last from generation to generation — so long as there shall be a 

 red man living on this earth: They also said, that the fire shall continue among us 

 and shall never be extinguished as long as one remains. The Seneca further said to 

 the Shawnees, I have juit a belt around you, and have tied up the talk in a bundle, 

 and placed it on your backs; we will now make a path on which we will pass to the 

 Sioux. The Seneca said further. You shall continue your path until it shall reach 

 the lodge of the Osage. When the talk was brought to the Sioux, they replied, 

 we feel thankful to you and will take your talk; we can see a light through the path 

 you have made for us. 



"When the Shawnees brought the talk to the Osages, they replied. By to-morrow, 

 by the middle of the day, we shall have finished our business. The Osage said 

 further. The Great Spirit has been kind to me. He ha's brought something to uie, I 

 being fatigued hunting for it. When the Shawnees returned to the lodge of the Osages, 



