448 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
tion with the modern condolence. In that the other nations come to 
comfort the mourning people, and there are reciprocal speeches. 
The visitors are met outside the town, and some ceremonies take 
place there. The names of the original chiefs are recited and their 
virtues praised. Pierron said: “ Our sachems having invited me to 
their ceremonial of the dead, held at Gandaouagué, I went to gratify 
them. The assembly was composed of Onondagas, some Oneidas, 
and the most eminent of Agmié. These were separated from the 
others according to custom. After the Onondaga had spoken, our 
Agnies discoursed of their fables and superstitions.” The French- 
man did not show the politeness of his nation, and the Mohawks 
were naturally surprised at his interference. One of their chiefs 
asked him to “ withdraw from their company, since they were about 
to sing according to their custom. It is true that I could under- 
stand nothing they sung and would not even countenance it,” but 
he went to the Onondagas and remained awhile with them. “ After 
the ceremony, which lasted for the space of five hours, I went back 
to the village without waiting for the rest of the ceremony, which 
belonged to our Agmies to terminate.” 
There are many early references to the minor and greater con- 
dolences, and those familiar with the present ceremony will readily 
see the likeness and difference. No business could be transacted 
till the dead had been condoled, nor could the mourning nation ap- 
pear in council till this was done. Just after the French came to 
Onondaga in 1656 a chief died, and the council could not be held 
till the town was expiated. One present dried the tears of the On- 
ondagas; another cleansed the council mat. Both French and Eng- 
lish soon took a hand in these ceremonies, and there can be little 
doubt that Johnson modified and enlarged them. The death of two 
Onondaga sachems had not been condoled in 1697. The following 
year the Onondagas had not recovered their senses. “The Lieut.- 
Governor according to ye usual ceremony, gave a bunch of Wam- 
pum, condoleing ye Sachems losse and approveing what choice they 
should make among themselves.” At Onondaga in 1701, the On- 
ondagas announced the death of a sachem and offered another with 
the same name, giving each nation a bunch of wampum. The 
