444 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



4 



thing to him, each in their turn. After each family has thus dis- 

 played its collars and made its harangue, they all assemble on a day 

 determined, and hanging up the collars in order, each on its own 

 side, they tell one another who are those who have given these 

 collars. " Such a one," they say, " has given this one, or so many 

 thousand beads; another has given these two, these three; another 

 these four collars." Finally they place all these collars together, 

 and put them in the hands of the ancients, who remain their mas- 

 ters. The council is then held to consider how many shall be car- 

 ried to each nation, to whom they ought to go in embassy, and 

 what affairs should be treated. Some days before the departure 

 of the ambassadors they send a present of porcelain to ask that 

 they would prepare a mat for them to sit and lie upon, and to make 

 known the day of their departure or arrival. 



As soon as the news reaches a village, the old men assemble; on 

 their part the young men go to the chase, and everyone contributes 

 the best that he has to regale the ambassadors. 



When the}^ have arrived about a musket shot from the palisade, 

 they light a fire in token of peace, in the place where the ancients 

 of the village go to attend them; and after having smoked some 

 time, and received the savage compliments which they make to 

 one another, they lead them to the cabin which is assigned them. 

 They march very gravely and in single file. One of the most 

 notable marches at the head, and he pronounces a grand suite of 

 words which they have received by tradition, and which they repeat 

 after him. The ambassador who is to speak marches last, singing 

 a rather agreeable air, and continues his song until in his cabin, 

 where he also makes five or six turns, singing. Then he sits down 

 the last of all. Then they renew the testimonials of friendship and 

 make presents to dispel fatigue, to wipe away tears, to remove scales 

 from the eyes that they may more easily see each other; finally, to 

 open the throat in order to give a free passage to the voice. These 

 presents are followed by food, which they serve to the ambassadors 

 by way of refreshment. Then they ask them news of their nation, 

 and they reply by recitals which sometimes last all night. The 

 following day they rest, and the third day they make their harangue, 

 -show their collars and the subject of their embassy. They answer 

 them the following day, after a public dance which is made around 

 the collars. The whole is terminated by a feast and by the thanks 

 which they mutually make. 



The opening ceremonies probably alwa3^s included the things 



above mentioned, but otherwise varied much. A single string or 



belt might Include several messages, or be devoted to one. By 



belts It was usual to dispel the clouds and make the sun appear, to 



take briers out of the paths, to cleanse blood, to restore the mind, 



