COUNCILS AND CEREMONIES OF ADOPTION OF NEW YORK INDIANS 379 



This song has been placed after this account, as the song of the 

 younger brothers, but may become that of the elder three. In all 

 these, Mr Hale's translation is generally followed, but with vari- 

 ations. It will be observed that the ceremonies are not religious, 

 but purely civil in character, a public installation or inauguration of 

 chiefs. For this reason those of opposing religious beliefs have no 

 hesitation in taking part, and as all are interested there is usually a 

 large attendance. Condolences are often several years apart. It 

 may here be remembered that Mr Morgan took a different view of 

 their nature, saying: 



In addition to the religious councils which were held at the 

 period of their festivals, the mourning council was always made an 

 occasion for religious and moral instruction. Many of its exercises 

 were of strictly religious character, and it would be more proper 

 to designate it as a religious council, than by any other name, but 

 for the circumstance that its object was to raise up rulers, and its 

 ceremonies were entirely distinct from those at the regular festi- 

 vals. Morgan, p. 125 



With the full text before him the reader can judge of the corect- 

 ness of this. A moral tone may be said to run through all, but 

 there is no religious instruction, nor does religious feeling go beyond 

 a mere expression of thankfulness. There is no act of worship 

 from beginning to end. It is probable that Mr Morgan was im- 

 pressed with the solemnity of the ceremonies, and did not sufficiently 

 take in the meaning of the words. 



There are some allusions in this delivery of the wampum which 

 are not of themselves clear. " It was valued at 20 " refers to the 

 fact that there was an established valuation of human life. The 

 losing of the line by the death of the woman recalls the other fact, 

 that descent was reckoned in the female line. Leaving the horns 

 on the grave was a command not to fill an office before a council was 

 called. Receiving the pouch is the transmission of mourning wam- 

 pum at or for such council, and the rising smoke refers to the 

 woodside fire. 



Another statement of Mr Morgan's may be noticed. It will be 

 seen that the figure kept in view is the building of a house, and that 

 there is no allusion to the planting of a tree of peace, so frequent in 

 speeches in council. So the substance of what Mr Morgan says 



