130 NEW YORK STATE :MUSEU3kI 



They had. either a rounded or pitched roof with openings at the top, 

 as vents for each fire beneath. . The Iroquois did not ordinarily 

 employ the conical skin tepee. 



The permanency of their village life is indicated in a measure by 

 their vast fields of corn and other vegetables. Agriculture exercised 

 an immense influence over their national life and it was pursued 

 with method and on a large scale. There are accounts of expedi- 

 tions sent out to procure new seeds and vegetable foods. Corn pits 

 are often found in village sites. 



Iroquois consanguinity was matriarchal. There were various 

 clans, having animal symbols and names. The women nominated 

 the civil sachems and could veto the acts of the tribal council. 



The Iroquois cosmogony relates that a pregnant woman fell from 

 the heaven world. She fell upon the back of a great turtle and 

 gave birth to a female child. This child grew quickly to maturity 

 and gave birth to two sons, good minded and evil minded, or more 

 properly. Light one and Dark one. The Light or shiny one molded 

 man after seeing his own reflection in the water. He found his father 

 dwelling on the top of a mountain that rose from the sea " to the 

 east " and begged certain gifts from him, which were given, tied up 

 in bags. Reaching his homeland again, the Light one opened them 

 and found animals and birds of all kinds, trees and plants. The 

 mother of the two boys died in giving them birth, killed by Dark 

 one or the Warty (Flinty), who insisted in emerging through her 

 armpit. The grandmother nursed the bo}S and bade themi watch 

 their mother's grave. The food plants and tobacco sprang from her 

 grave. The sun and moon in other versions were made from her 

 face, eyes and limbs. 



Nearly all Iroquois legends relate to incidents of the southwest. 

 Many expeditions are told about, that relate to the country down the 

 Ohio river. Few stories of the north are related. The north was 

 only the land of great terrors and savage giants. 



Comparison of the Iroquoian Culture With That of Surrounding 



Tribes 



As has been seen in the foregoing description, outlining the mate- 

 rial culture of the Iroquois, there are certain definite things which 

 characterize their handiwork. Tlie Algonkian tribes, in some 

 instances, erected earthworks or stockaded inclosures but apparently 

 far less in extent than the Iroquois. In this respect the Iroquois 

 more greatly resemble the Indians of Ohio and the southern states. 

 With the exception of the size and height of the walls their earthen 

 wall inclosure do not greatly depart from certain Ohio forms. The 



