THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS IO3 



Then Dekanahwideh continued and said: "We have still one 

 matter left to be considered and that is with reference to the hunt- 

 ing grounds of our people from which they derive their living." 



They, the lords, said with reference to this matter : " We shall 

 now do this: We shall only have one dish (or bowl) in which 

 will be placed one beaver's tail and we shall all have coequal right 

 to it, and there shall be no knife in it, for if there be a knife in it, 

 there would be danger that it might cut some one and blood would 

 thereby be shed." (This one dish or bowl signifies that they will 

 make their hunting grounds one common tract and all have a co- 

 equal right to hunt within it.^ The knife being prohibited from 

 being placed into the dish or bowl signifies that all danger would 

 be removed from shedding blood by the people of these different 

 nations of the confederacy caused by differences of the right of 

 the hunting grounds.) 



Then Dekanahwideh continued and said : " We have now accom- 

 plished and completed forming the great Confederacy of the Five 

 Nations together with adopting rules and regulations in connection 

 therewith." 



Then he, Dekanahwideh, continued and said : " I will now leave 

 all matters in the hands of your lords and you are to work and 

 carry out the principles of all that I have just laid before you for 

 the welfare of your people and others, and I now place the power 

 in your hands and to add to the rules and regulations whenever 

 necessary and I now charge each of you lords that you must never 

 seriously disagree among yourselves. You are all of equal standing 

 and of equal power, and if you seriously disagree the consequences 

 will be most serious and this disagreement will cause you to disre- 

 gard each other, and while you are quarreling with each other, the 

 white panther ^ (the fire dragon of discord) ^ will come and take 

 your rights and privileges away. Then your grandchildren will 

 suffer and be reduced to poverty and disgrace." 



Then he, Dekanahwideh, continued and said : " If this should 

 ever occur, whoever can climb a great tree (Skarehhehsegowah) 

 and ascend to the top, may look around over the landscape and will 

 see if there is any way or place to escape to from the calamity of 

 the threatening poverty and disgrace, so that our children may have 

 a home where they may have peace and happiness in their day. 



1 Diondowes'ta', hunting ground. 



2 Usually translated lion. 

 ^ Oshondowek'gona. 



