32 HOUSES AND HOUSE-LIFE OF THE AMERICAN ABORIGINES. 
The names bestowed upon the original sachems became the names of 
their respective successors in perpetuity. For example, upon the demise of 
Gd-ne-o-di'-yo, one of the eight Seneca sachems, his successor would be 
elected by the Turtle gens in which this sachemship was hereditary, and 
when raised up by the general council he would receive this name, in place 
of his own, as a part of the ceremony. On several different occasions I 
have attended their councils for raising up sachems both at the Onondaga 
and Seneca reservations, and witnessed the ceremonies herein referred to. 
Although but a shadow of the old confederacy now remains, it is fully 
organized with its complement of sachems and aids, with the exception of 
the Mohawk tribe, which removed to Canada about 1775. Whenever 
vacancies occur their places are filled, and a general council is convened 
to install the new sachems and their aids. The present Iroquois are also 
perfectly familiar with the structure and principles of the ancient confederacy. 
For all purposes of tribal government the five tribes were independent 
of each other. Their territories were separated by fixed boundary lines, 
and their tribal interests were distinct. The eight Seneca sachems, in con- 
junction with the other Seneca chiefs, formed the council of the tribe by 
which its affairs were administered, leaving to each of the other tribes the 
same control over their separate interests. As an organization the tribe was 
neither weakened nor impaired by the confederate compact. Each was in 
vigorous life within its appropriate sphere, presenting some analogy to our 
own States within an embracing Republic. It is worthy of remembrance 
that the Iroquois commended to our forefathers a union of the colonies 
similar to their own as early as 1755. They saw in the common interests 
and common speech of the several colonies the elements for a confedera- 
tion, which was as far as their vision was able to penetrate. 
The tribes occupied positions of entire equality in the confederacy in 
rights, privileges, and obligations. Such special immunities as were granted 
to one or another indicate no intention to establish an unequal compact or 
to concede unequal privileges. There were organic provisions apparently 
investing particular tribes with superior power; as, for example, the Onon- 
dagas were allowed fourteen sachems and the Senecas but eight; and a 
larger body of sachems would naturally exercise a stronger influence in 
