COUNCILS AND CEREMONIES OF ADOPTION OF NEW YORK INDIANS 42 1 



The next day was one of rest ; the third day the ambassadors stated 

 their business and were answered the fourth day. The whole was 

 terminated by compliments and a feast. 



When Cartier visited Hochelaga in 1535 an old Iroquois custom 

 was observed. He was met at a wayside fire, some distance from 

 the town, by some chiefs who welcomed him in a long- address. 

 Then they escorted him to their capital. 



At Le Moyne's first visit to Onondaga in 1654, he did not di- 

 rectly speak of being formally met in this way, as he did on a 

 later occasion, but it is easily inferred, for he said : "At a quarter 

 of a league from the village I began a harangue, which gained me 

 much credit. I named all the chiefs, the families, and persons of 

 note in a drawling voice and with the tone of a chief." Two chiefs 

 made a reply. 



When Chaumonot and Dablon came to Onondaga, the chief 

 Gonaterezon came to meet them. a league from the town and led 

 them to the woodside fire a quarter of a league from Onondaga, 

 where the great men of the place awaited them, refreshing them 

 with their best dishes and exchanging friendly speeches. Then 

 they were led through lines of people into the town. Like this was 

 Father Le Moyne's second reception at Onondaga in 1661. His 

 old friend Garakontie still loved the French : 



This is why he came two leagues to meet us, accompanied by four 

 or five others of the Ancients, an honor which they are never accus- 

 tomed to give to the other ambassadors, to meet whom they are 

 contented to go a little eighth of a league outside of the town ... I 

 walked gravely between two rows of people, who give me a thou- 

 sand benedictions ... I kept making my cry of Ambassador while 

 walking . . . then having returned in two words my thanks for 

 this good welcome, I continued my journey and my cry. 



The old Mohawk word, Gawendoutatie, to go speaking as when 

 they go on an embassy, seems to allude to this practice. The two 

 zvords were short speeches emphasized with strings or belts. 



Receptions at the council fires of the whites gradually took on 

 new features, retaining some which were old. In 1694 a treaty 

 was held in State street, Albany, with 25 Iroquois chiefs. 



Ye sachims were attended with many other Indians. When ye 

 came to ye place where ye treaty was held, they came two in a rank, 

 Rode, ye sachim of ye Maguase being ye leader, singing all ye way, 





