394 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the aforesaid Sachems sung the condoling song : This being over 

 Rozinoghyata, with several other councillors or Sachems rose up, 

 and shook hands with Sir William and bid him and his company 

 wellcome to their Town or Castle. Then Sir William marched on 

 at the Head of the Warriors the Sachems falling into the Rear, 

 and continued singing their condoling song. O'Callaghan, 7:133 



Conrad Weiser mentioned something of the kind at an ordinary 

 council at Onondaga, when the formation of the union was recalled, 

 and the names of the first chiefs repeated. This will be quoted 

 later, and occurred July 30, 1743. 



Before Weiser reached Onondaga in 1750, Canassatego had died, 

 and at first it was thought no council could be held, but as he had 

 come a long way the chiefs reconsidered the matter, and sent word 

 that they would meet him. He said, on this point: 



It is to be known that the Six Nations don't meet in Council 

 when they are in mourning till some of their Friends or Neighbours 

 wipe off their Tears and comfort their Heart ; it is a certain cere- 

 mony, and if they appear in Council without that Ceremony being 

 performed, the dead Person was of no Credit or Esteem and it is a 

 certain affront to the deceased Friends, if he has any. Hazard, 

 5 474 



On this occasion some Onondaga chiefs met him on the way, and 

 "one," said Weiser, " began to sing a Lamentation Song, just when 

 we set out, to signify to me in an allegorical way, that the Town I 

 was going to was no more inhabited by such good Friends as for- 

 merly, and now more especially since the Word died, meaning 

 Canassatego, the evil Spirits would reign and bring forth Thorns 

 and Briars out of the Earth." 



Canassatego's name meant Upsetting a house placed in order, but 

 he had long been their speaker or Word, and this expression was 

 used instead of his name, from a curious Iroquois custom of which 

 Weiser took note. Reference was made in the council to " the 

 Death of that great Man our Word, who died but the other day (a 

 dead man's name must not be mentioned among the People.;" 

 Hazard, 5: 476. This must have been awkward. at times, when sev- 

 eral were condoled. In July 1751, Weiser met the Indians at 

 Albany, and employed Canaghquieson to perform all necessary cere- 

 monies for him, he being an expert in such matters : 



After most of the Indians met, Canachquaieson stood up and 

 begged me to walk up and down the Floor and to sing Lamentation 

 Songs in very melancholy Time, which he continued till all were 





