244 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



In 1694 the J)elawares definitely appear in Iroqnois history 

 having long been snbject to them in a quiet way. The time 

 came afterward when they did not like this, and said they were 

 deceived by the Iroquois when persuaded to become women and 

 thus peacemakers. Heckewelder says of this office : '' It must 

 be understood that among these nations wars are never brought 

 to an end but by the interference of the weaker sex." Then he 

 tells the story invented by them, on which Albert Gallatin 

 remarked : '' The tale suggested by the vanity of the Delawares, 

 and in which the venerable Heckewelder placed implicit faith, 

 that this treaty was a voluntary act on the part of the Delawares, 

 is too incredible to require a serious discussion." Heckewelder 

 gives the speech and acts supposed to have been used in making 

 the Delawares women, which may be compared with the historic 

 ceremony of restoring their rights. The speech had three parts : 



The first was, that they declared the Delaware nation to be 

 the woman in the following words : '' We dress you in a woman's 

 long habit, reaching down to your feet, and adorn you with ear- 

 rings " ; meaning that they should no more take up arms. The 

 second point was thus expressed : *' We hang a calabash filled 

 with oil and medicine upon your arm. With the oil you shall 

 cleanse the ears of the other nations, that they may attend to 

 good and not to bad words, and with the medicine you shall 

 heal those who are walking in foolish ways, that they may return 

 to their senses and incline their hearts to peace." The third 

 point, by which the Delawares were exhorted to make agriculture 

 their future employ and means of subsistence, was thus worded: 

 " We deliver into your hands a plant of Indian corn and a hoe." 

 Each of these points was confirmed by delivering a belt of wam- 

 pum, and these belts have been carefully laid up, and their mean- 

 ing frequently repeated. The Iroquois, on the contrary, assert 

 that they conquered the Delawares, and that the latter were 

 forced to adopt the defenceless state and appellation of a zvoman 

 to avoid total ruin. 



What the Delawares' earlier statement really was appears in 

 a conference held with them in Philadelphia July 6, 1694. A 

 belt was produced by them, sent, they said 



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