4^4 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



man's he^d toward the other end. At the feet of this human figure 

 is an open diamond, representing a castle. Donaldson described it 

 as showing ** the guarded approach of strangers to the councils of 

 the Five Nations;" by no means a bad interpretation. Probably in 

 this case the cross would be the strangers coming by the path of 

 peace, which is guarded by the warrior or chief before the castle. 

 In 1886 Webster described this as a belt of admission to the league. 

 It is on buckskin thongs, and strung with fine white thread. The 

 width is seven rows or 2.5 inches. 



Fig. 238 is another of the Onondaga belts, six rows deep or 2.25 

 inches wide, and made on twine thongs. A curious feature is that 

 in the squares there are two rows of dark beads to one of white. 

 Carrington's picture gives but four of the sloping lines of 'black 

 beads. It had five when first seen by the writer, being then perfect 

 and probably relating to the Five Nations. It is noticeable how 

 this loss changed the meaning, which Donaldson gives as ^' a treaty 

 where but four of the Six Nations were represented," In 1886 

 Webster said that this and some others " represent the submission 

 of each tribe when they joined the confederacy and were turned 

 over to the wampum keepers. 



Fig. 251 had the same meaning given to it by Webster, and the 

 fondness for a similar interpretation is noticeable. It is a fine belt 

 of seven rows, with open white hexagons on a purple ground, being 

 almost the counterpart of the Parker belt. It has buckskin thongs 

 and black thread. Donaldson speaks of this as a belt '' claiming to- 

 bear date about 1608, when Champlain joined the Algonquins 

 against the Iroquois." It is by no means so old, and has been 

 mutilated since it was first seen by the writer. It was then perfect. 



Fig. 240 is a belt of 12 rows with black diagonal bars on a white 

 foundation, and it is imperfect at both ends. It had seven full bars 

 when first seen by the writer, but Mr Carrington's picture shows 

 but six and perhaps part of another. According to him it " repre- 

 sents a convention of the Six Nations at the adoption of the Tus- 

 caroras into the league." This is not satisfactory, but no other 

 meaning ha's been given. It is on buckskin thongs. Sloping lines 

 are said to be temporary alliances. 



