342 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



For such calls wampum was used, with a tally stick attached to 

 fix the date. The simple tribal council might do little to develop 

 statesmanship, but Iroquois sagacity and eloquence were largel)- 

 due to the annual or more frequent meetings of their five divisions, 

 and the increasing outlook coming from these. When councils 

 with the French, English and Dutch became frequent, there was a 

 greater stimulus, and when distant tribes came to seek their favor 

 or pay them tribute, they would not fail to become lofty in their 

 bearing and farseeing in their plans. 



While the great council of the Iroquois met periodically it was 

 often summoned in extra session for special purposes. To obviate 

 too frequent calls, they had the expedient of delegating powers. 

 One might speak for another in councils, or sometimes the Onon- 

 dagas might act for the whole. Local affairs were left to national 

 councils, as in our general and state governments, those of general 

 importance going to the grand council. In the latter case, the 

 Onondagas, or others who might be present, sometimes held a 

 preliminary meeting with messengers or ambassadors, not as a 

 matter of formal business, but to learn the business, so as to be 

 better prepared when the council assembled. Sometimes ambassa- 

 dors consulted with a prominent chief, so that he might know the 

 matter exactly, and guard against misunderstandings. It was no 

 uncommon thing to secure his favor and aid by timely gifts. In 

 such a case he was understood to be their representative and 

 speaker. This the council failed not to remember. 



Various councils had different names, and nationality affected 

 this. The Senecas called a civil council Ho-de-os'-seh, advising 

 together, while an Onondaga might term it Ka-hos'-ken, and some- 

 times Kah-hah, where they have a light. The names of other 

 councils will appear under their proper heads. 



While in some tribes war chiefs had a prominent place in coun- 

 cils, they had none in the national councils of the Iroquois, as such, 

 and in some cases a sachem was supposed to be debarred by his 

 office from taking part in war at all. This probably went no 

 further than to give him exemption on high grounds, if he chose 

 to avail himself of it. It at least showed that this people recog- 

 nized in peace something far better than war. One of their, own 

 names for their confederacy was that of Great Peace, and though 



