444 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
thing to him, each in their turn. After each family has thus dis- 
played its collars and made its harangue, they all assemble on a day 
determined, and hanging up the collars in order, each on its own 
side, they tell one another who are those who have given these 
collars. “Such a one,” they say, “has given this one, or so many 
thousand beads; another has given these two, these three; another 
these four collars.” Finally they place all these collars together, 
and put them in the hands of the ancients, who remain their mas- 
ters. The council is then held to consider how many shall be car- 
ried to each nation, to whom they ought to go in embassy, and 
what affairs should be treated. Some days before the departure 
of the ambassadors they send a present of porcelain to ask that 
they would prepare a mat for them to sit and lie upon, and to make 
known the day of their departure or arrival. 
As soon as the news reaches a village, the old men assemble; on 
their part the young men go to the chase, and everyone contributes 
the best that he has to regale the ambassadors. 
When they have arrived about a musket shot from the palisade, 
they light a fire in token of peace, in the place where the ancients 
of the village go to attend them; and after having smoked some 
time, and received the savage compliments which they make to 
one another, they lead them to the cabin which is assigned them. 
They march very gravely and in single file. One of the most 
notable marches at the head, and he pronounces a grand suite of 
words which they have received by tradition, and which they repeat 
after him. The ambassador who is to speak marches last, singing 
a rather agreeable air, and continues his song until in his cabin, 
where he also makes five or six turns, singing. Then he sits down 
the last of all. Then they renew the testimonials of friendship and 
make presents to dispel fatigue, to wipe away tears, to remove scales 
from the eyes that they may more easily see each other; finally, to 
open the throat in order to give a free passage to the voice. These 
presents are followed by food, which they serve to the ambassadors 
by way of refreshment. Then they ask them news of their nation, 
and they reply by recitals which sometimes last all night. The 
following day they rest, and the third day they make their harangue, 
show their collars and the subject of their embassy. They answer 
them the following day, after a public dance which is made around 
the collars. The whole is terminated by a feast and by the thanks 
which they mutually make. 
The opening ceremonies probably always included the things 
above mentioned, but otherwise varied much. A single string or 
belt might include several messages, or be devoted to one. By 
belts it was usual to dispel the clouds and make the sun appear, to 
take briers out of the paths, to cleanse blood, to restore the mind, 
hive 
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