COUNCILS AND CEREMONIES OF ADOPTION OF NEW YORK INDIANS 425 



were adjourned to the next day. When the Cherokees came to a 

 council in New York, they were surprised at the lateness of the 

 hour, having a belief that " at noon the day was too far advanced 

 for a work of peace." When Kirkland reached the Seneca castle 

 in the evening, they deferred his business till morning, saying " it 

 was not their custom to receive a message of peace in the dark- 

 ness of the night, but in the light of day." Generally, however, 

 Iroquois councils were held in the afternoon or evening, except 

 those of a religious nature, and they seldom meet now for busi- 

 ness before noon in New York, though they do in Canada. Huron 

 councils were usually in the evening, often continuing all night. 

 The Iroquois preferred the afternoon, unless for private sessions. 

 A custom of little prominence was mentioned in 1774, in con- 

 nection with a council with Col. Guy Johnson. The Onondagas 

 came to him and said : 



That all our late appointed Chiefs may be made known to you, 

 (we) do now introduce them, that you may be well acquainted with 

 those to whom our affairs are committed . . . This Brother is our 

 old custom, which has been always used to acquaint those who get 

 the management of Indians, with the names and characters of our 

 great men. This we did on former occasions. We did it with 

 Sir William, and now we do it with you. O'Callaghan, 8 :$o6 



The closing of a council might be elaborate or simple, with form 

 or' without. When Conrad Weiser was at Onondaga in August, 

 1743, his business was satisfactorily concluded : 



After all was over, according to the Ancient Custom of that Fire, 

 a Song of Friendship and Joy was sung by the Chiefs, after this 

 the Council Fire on their side was put out. I with the same Cere- 

 mony put out the Fire on behalf of Assaryquoa and Onas, and they 

 departed. Hazard, 4:668 



This is commonly termed covering the fire, and hence is the 

 propriety of the Canadian term of fire-keepers for the Onondagas, 

 from their power in councils. A religious council is closed by 

 simply removing the wampum. 



The Iroquois were mindful of the old rule to " welcome the 

 coming, speed the parting guest." When Le Moyne left Onondaga 

 in 1654 he not only had a farewell feast, as was customary, but 

 "half a league from there we found a troop of old men, all peo- 



