44^ NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



tion with the modern condolence. In that the other nations come to 

 comfort the mourning people, and there are reciprocal speeches. 

 The visitors are met outside the town, and some ceremonies take 

 place there. The names of the original chiefs are recited and their 

 virtues praised. Pierron said: " Our sachems having invited me to 

 their ceremonial of the dead, held at Gandaouague, I went to gratify 

 them. The assembly was composed of Onondagas, some Oneidas, 

 and the most eminent of Agnie. These were separated from the 

 others according to custom. After the Onondaga had spoken, our 

 Agnies discoursed of their fables and superstitions." The French- 

 man did not show the politeness of his nation, and the Mohawks 

 were naturally surprised at his interference. One of their chiefs 

 asked him to " withdraw from their company, since they were about 

 to sing according to their custom. It is true that I could under- 

 stand nothing they sung and would not even countenance it," but 

 he went to the Onondagas and remained awhile with them. " After 

 the ceremony, which lasted for the space of five hours, I went back 

 to the village without waiting for the rest of the ceremony, which 

 belonged to our Agnies to terminate." 



There are many early references to the minor and greater con- 

 dolences, and those famiHar with the present ceremony will readily 

 see the likeness and difference. No business could be transacted 

 till the dead had been condoled, nor could the mourning nation ap- 

 pear in council till this was done. Just after the French came to 

 Onondaga in 1656 a chief died, and the council could not be held 

 till the town was expiated. One present dried the tears of the On- 

 ondagas; another cleansed the council mat. Both French and Eng- 

 lish soon took a hand in these ceremonies, and there can be little 

 doubt that Johnson modified and enlarged them. The death of two 

 Onondaga sachems had not been condoled in 1697. The following 

 year the Onondagas had not recovered their senses. " The Lieut.- 

 Governor according to ye usual ceremony, gave a bunch of Wam- 

 pum, condoleing ye Sachems losse and approveing what choice they 

 should make among themselves." At Onondaga in 1701, the On- 

 ondagas announced the death of a sachem and offered another with 

 the same name, giving each nation a bunch of wampum. The 



