HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 167 



One or two things more may be added about the league. At 

 first it seems a loose alliance, holding periodical councils to pre- 

 vent internal hostilities, but gradually becoming stronger and 

 with more definite laws. In 1655 the Mohawks and Senecas were 

 almost at war, and the former took defensive measures. Each 

 nation made war or peace for itself, but, while this continued 

 through all their history, they were most of the time a united 

 people. Aggressive wars were popular, and all might heartily 

 engage in these. When they were invaded, each nation took care 

 of itself, sometimes proposing aid but giving none. 



One feature should not be overlooked, the rank and great influ- 

 ence of women, of which many examples could be given. Some 

 New York treaties bear their names. The children followed the 

 mother's clan and nation, and the chief women had the power of 

 naming principal chiefs for their clan or family. Speeches are 

 made in the council for them but not by them, and Red jacket 

 was long their speaker. Peace or war, matters of general wel- 

 fare, have often rested on their decision. Tilling the soil, they 

 sometimes claimed its ownership. The most curious testimony 

 to the estimation of women is the old Huron and Iroquois rule, 

 that for a woman's life the atonement should be double that of 

 a man. 



Chapter 5 



Weakness of early Iroquois. Good Iroquois or Hurons. First battle with 

 Champlain. Preparations for this and location. Battle of 1610. Invasion 

 of Iroquois in 1615. Route of Champlain. Siege of Oneida fort. Brule's 

 adventures. Coming of the Dutch and their maps. Supposed treaty at 

 Tav^^asentha. Insufficient evidence. Eflforts for peace between Algon- 

 quins and Iroquois. Dutch attack Mohawks. Fort Orange built. Re- 

 newed war between Iroquois and Canadian Indians. Mahicans sell 

 their lands. 



With all their bravery and wisdom, the Iroquois seem to have 

 been barely holding their own when first known as residents in 

 New York. Champlain came to Tadoussac in 1603, before he 

 had seen them, and found the Indians, '' rejoicing for the victory 

 obtained by them over the Irocois, of whom they had killed some 

 hundred, whose heads (scalps) they had cut off, which they had 



