26 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the proposals. After a year had passed they sent messengers to say 

 that they had agreed to enter into the confederacy. 



Then Dekanawida said, " I now will report to the Mohawk coun- 

 cil the result of my work of five years." Hayonhwatha then said, 

 " I do agree to the report." 



THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GREAT PEACE 



Dekanawida requested some of the Mohawk chiefs to call a 

 council, so messengers were sent out among the people and the 

 council was convened. 



Dekanawida said, " I, with my co-worker, have a desire to now 

 report what we have done on five successive midsummer days, of 

 five successive years. We have obtained the consent of five nations. 

 These are the Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Cayugas 

 and the Senecas. Our desire is to form a compact for a union of 

 our nations. Our next step is to seek out Adodarhoh. It is he who 

 has always set at naught all plans for the establishment of the 

 Great Peace. We must seek his fire and look for his smoke." 



The chief speaker of the council then said, " We do agree and 

 confirm all you have said and we wish to appoint two spies who shall 

 volunteer to seek out the smoke of Adodarhoh." 



Two men then eagerly volunteered and Dekanawida asked them 

 if they were able to transform themselves into birds or animals, for 

 such must be the ability of the messengers who approached Adodar- 

 hoh. The two m§n replied, " We are able to transform ourselves 

 into herons and cranes." 



" Then you will not do for you will pause at the first creek or 

 swamp and look for frogs and fish." 



Two men then said, " We have magic that will transform us into 

 humming birds. They fly very swiftly." 



" Then you will not do because you are always hungry and are 

 looking for flowers." 



Two other men then said, " We can become the Dare, the white 

 crane." 



" Then you will not do because you are very wild and easily 

 frightened. You would be afraid when the clouds move. You 

 would become hungry and fly to the ground looking about for 

 ground nuts." 



Then two men who were crows by magic volunteered but they 

 were told that crows talked too loudly, boasted and were full of 

 mischief. 



