400 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



nine rows. On this were white letters and figures, W: I. and 1756. 

 The Six Nations afterward met the colonial commissioners at Ger- 

 man Flats. This was preliminary to a more important council at 

 Albany in August 1775. As a symbol of the troubled times a 

 broken belt was one of those presented by the commissioners. A 

 new union belt was given by them. It represented the 12 united 

 colonies, and was followed on their part by " the large belt 

 of intelligence and declaration." Then followed the path 

 belt, and the pipe of peace with six small strings. The Indians 

 there referred to an old covenant belt of 20 rows between the 

 Oneidas and Peter Schuyler, and another given by the Senecas. 

 These old belts were again brought out at Albany. 



In these many accounts of belts of this kind the development of 

 emblems and the probable date of each may be seen. Many were 

 arbitrary, and the exact meaning could only be known by tradition, 

 "which often proves a misleading guide with existing belts. Others 

 had their meaning explained when given, to the great relief of those 

 who received them. While a line may mean a road, a square or 

 diamond a castle or nation, clasped hands alliances and hatchets 

 war, it does not always clearly appear what road, nation, alliance 

 or war is intended. The interpretation depends on the occasion, 

 and the true meaning may be forgotten. In Pierre Margry's 

 Decouvertes et etahlissements des Francais, pt 5, p. 290-91, is a con- 

 versation between Capt. de Lamothe Cadillac and the Huron chief 

 Quarante-Sols. It was at a council at Fort Pontchartrain, June 3, 



1703. 



Quarante-Sols. I came on my way to tell you what I propose to 

 do at Montreal. Here is a collar which has been sent to us by the 

 Iroquois, and which the Ottawas have brought us; we do not know 

 wh^t it signifies. 



M. de Lamothe. How have you received this collar without 

 knowing the purpose for which it was sent you? 



Quarante-Soh. It has already been long since we received it. I 

 was not there, and our old men have forgotten what it said. 



M. de Lamothe. Your old men are not regarded as children to 

 have such a short memory. 



Quarante-Sols. We do not accept this collar; but we are going to 

 take it to Sonnontouan to find out what it means, because it is a 

 serious matter not to respond to a collar; it is the custom among 



