4IO NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



their blood ; and his knife flayed their scalps while yet covered with 

 gore ! And why do we mourn ? Though he fell on the field of 

 the slain, with glory he fell ; and his spirit went up to the land of 

 his fathers in war! Then why do we mourn? With transports of 

 joy they received him, and fed him, and clothed him, and welcomed 

 him there ! Oh, friends, he is happy ; then dry up your tears. His 

 spirit has seen our distress, and sent us a helper whom with pleasure 

 we greet. Deh-he-wa-mis has come ; then let us receive her with 

 joy! — she is handsome and pleasant ! Oh, she is our sister, and 

 gladly we welcome her here. In the place of our brother she stands 

 in our tribe. With care we will guard her from trouble ; and may 

 she be happy till her spirit shall leave us. Seaver, p. 57-59 



At the annual outing of the Onondaga Historical Association, 

 held at Onondaga Valley, June 6, 1904, the writer was adopted into 

 the Onondaga Eel clan as Wah-kat-yu'-ten, the Beautiful Rainbow. 

 It was intended to do this in the council house, when the society 

 met there two years before, but it was then deferred for lack of 

 time. The ceremony used did not essentially differ. Albert Cusick 

 or Sa-go-na-qua-de, performed the customary rites in Indian cos- 

 tume, relating the origin of the clan and confederacy and the rea- 

 sons why the honor was bestowed. He then led the new brother 

 up and down, singing the customary song of thanksgiving and then 

 introducing him to those of his new relatives who were present. 

 At a meeting of the Cayuga Historical Association the next even- 

 ing, after the presentation of the Cornplanter medal to Gen. John 

 S. Clark of Auburn, in recognition of his valued Iroquois researches, 

 that distinguished antiquarian was adopted into the same clan and 

 nation, by the name of Hah-hah-he'-sucks, or the Pathfinder. In 

 both these cases the distinction was unsought, and in this way it is 

 rarely given. The song used was no. 7 of this bulletin, being one 

 of the Adonwah or thanksgiving songs. They are thankful for 

 their new brother. The ancient and monotonous He He accom- 

 paniment from a large body of persons gives a peculiar character 

 to this. 



Religious council 



Though the Iroquois had many religious feasts the religious 

 council is of modern institution and of a distinct character. Mor- 

 gan gave the Seneca name as Ga-e-we'-yo-do Ho-de-os-hen-da-ko, 

 one devoted to religious observances, mainly in the way of teach- 





