THE GEOKGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 181 



prise the several nominees to the great office of league-sachem of their selection. He 

 was also invested with the prerogative of inventing and conferring the permanent 

 titles of these sachemships. Ho wisely resolved that, instead of leaving it to his 

 fancy or invention, he would l^t chance, or what we call providence, suggest and de- 

 termine the name, and he proceeded on the westward trail to fulfil his mission. When 

 ho came to the wigwam of a family thus to be honored he gave the elected head of 

 the household a sachem name or title, which was to be hereditary and last as long as 

 the league should endure, and which was suggested by his appearance, his occupa. 

 tion at the moment of encountering him, his condition and natural surroundings at 

 the time. For instance, calling at the lodge of one of the Mohawk nominees, the 

 messenger surprised the former in the act of hanging up on the ceiling of the wigwam 

 the fawn-hoof rattle-bracelets which warriors wore on their ankles in the war-dance. 

 He was henceforth invested with a title which, translated into English, signifies " Hang- 

 ing up rattles." His successor in office to-day wears the same name. Another upon 

 whom he called, impressed him by his lofty intellectual forehead, and " High Fore- 

 head" became his title. Another, a Seneca, was surprised in the act of mending his 

 moccasins and exasperated at the accidental breaking of his bone needle ; the title 

 of his office became ''The Needle Breaker." 



The foregoing explanation is ingenious and probably true. I have heard that the 

 titles of barons and other nobles in the old country had their origin in just such 

 trivial circumstances.* 



Alas! so much has perished of the unwritten traditions of my people, and so much 

 is being enshrouded in the thickening darkness of a night which will know no 

 morning. — Mrs. Caroline Mt. Pleasant (Ge-goh-sa-sah, Wild Cat) in Transactions 

 Buffalo Historical Society, vol. 3, 1885. 



SIX NATIONS IN CANADA. 



The followiDg data in relation to the Six-Nation tribes now m Can- 

 ada, together with an account of the centennial celebration of their 

 arrival in Canada, is inserted because recent and interesting and as 

 containing much new matter : 



MOnAWK CENTENNIAL AT TYENDINAGA, ON THE BAY OF QUINTE, CANADA, SEPTEM- 

 BER 4, 1884. 



[From the Deseronto Tribune.] 



The Mohawk Indians celebrated the hundredth anniversary of their lauding on the 

 Tyendinaga Reserve (from the United States) on Thursdaj', September 4, 1884. The 

 place selected for the demonstration was the beautiful grove adjoining Christ church; 

 and certainly no more charming locality could be selected for the purpose, the grove 

 which overlooks the bay being one of the finest in this part of the district. There 

 was a very large attendance of visitors from all parts of the adjoining country, all 

 of whom appeared to enjoy the day's proceedings, which proved highly interesting 

 and eminently successful. The Indians of the reserve were out in force, several be- 

 ing dressed in the costumes worn by the nation in ye olden time. Ou the grounds 

 there could be seen an old wigwam, on which there was, in large figures, 1784, and 

 near by a handsome white tent with 1884. 



After devotional exercise and prayers, which wore read by Rev. Rural Dean Baker, 

 Mr. Solomon Loft, chairman, called on Chief Sampson Green, the first speaker, who, 

 jn full costume, came to the front and extended a welcome, on behalf of the Mohawk 

 Nation, to all visitors. He said it was customary for his forefathers, when thej' as- 

 sembled for council, to commence their proceedings by smoking the pipe of peace. 



* J. e,, Iloni soft fjui mal y pense ; Couiit Yon Gellhora (of the screeching UorH),&9. 



