COUNCILS AND CEREMONIES OF ADOPTION OF NEW YORK INDIANS 343 



they fought fiercely they always hailed peace as one of the greatest 

 of blessings. The highest purpose of their great council was to 

 remove every source of strife among themselves. 



Charlevoix had most of his information from others, but speaks 

 in high terms of Indian councils. He doubted whether women had 

 all the influence which some claimed for them, but had been told 

 that they deliberated first on whatever was to be proposed in 

 council, to which they reported the result of this consultation. 



The warriors likewise consult together, on what relates to their 

 particular province, but can conclude nothing of importance which 

 concerns the nation or town; all being subject to the examination 

 and controul of the council of elders who judge in the last resource. 

 It must be acknowledged, that proceedings are carried on in these 

 assemblies with a wisdom and a coolness, and a knowledge of affairs, 

 and I may add generally with a probity, which would have done 

 honour to the areopagus of Athens, or to the senate of Rome, in 

 the most glorious days of those republics ; the reason of this is, 

 that nothing is resolved upon with precipitation ; and that those vio- 

 lent passions, which have so much disgraced the politics even of 

 Christians, have never prevailed amongst the Indians over the 

 public good . . . What is certain, is, that our Indians are 

 eternally negociating, and have always some affairs or other on the 

 tapis : such as the concluding or renewing of treaties, offers of 

 service, mutual civilities, making alliances, invitations to become 

 parties in a war, and lastly, compliments of condolence on the death 

 of some chief or considerable person. All this is performed with 

 a dignity, an attention, and I may add, with a capacity equal to the 

 most important affairs, and theirs are sometimes of greater conse- 

 quence than they seem to be : for those, who are deputed for this 

 purpose, have commonly secret instructions. Charlevoix, 2 -.26-28 



The councils here considered are the civil, religious and mourn- 

 ing councils, those for adoption and those for bewailing the dead 

 without reference to the new relations of the living. Among the 

 Iroquois the Grand Council represented the whole confederacy, 

 and treated of peace and war, or any questions affecting general 

 interests. This had at first a fixed number of members, and met. at 

 Onondaga annually. The minor matters of war parties were left 

 to the war chiefs. This great council often had long sessions, and 

 the council fire was never extinguished; the embers were simply 

 covered. The chiefs of each nation composing this council were 

 the civil rulers of their own nation, and were elective by hereditary 



