450 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



camp at Oneida Sir William and the principal chiefs " of every 

 nation prepared the several speeches of condolence to be made . . . 

 and chose the proper belts for the ceremony." On this occasion 

 the Cayugas, as Younger Brothers, acted for the mourning Onon- 

 dagas, who were Elder Brothers. June i8 the Cayugas met him 

 and his company a mile from Onondaga Castle, where two hours 

 were spent in arranging the formalities according to the ancient 

 custom. " Then Sir William marched on at the Head of the 

 Sachems singing the condoling song which contains the names, 

 laws & Customs of their renowned ancestors." This was sung 

 mostly by the Oneidas, who were also Younger Brothers. " When 

 they came within sight of the Castle the Head Sachems and War- 

 riors met Sir William, where he was stopped, they having placed 

 themselves in a Half Moon across the Road, sitting in profound 

 silence. There a Halt was made about an hour, during which time 

 the aforesaid Sachems sung the condoling song." This halt is now 

 by a fire on the roadside, at some distance from the council house. 

 " Then Sir William marched on at the Head of the Warriors the 

 Sachems falling into the Rear and continued singing their condoling 

 song." His reception completed the day. The next day " the full 

 council of all the Nations met, with Sir William at their Head, to 

 perform the grand solemnity of Condolence for the Death " of the 

 great Onondaga chief. This was done with ii belts and three 

 strings of wampum. '' The whole Ceremony of Condolence ended " 

 and was very different from the present form. The ancient song is 

 mentioned by others, and included the names. When King Hend- 

 rick and others were to be condoled the same year, Johnson could 

 not go, but gave the proper belts. At German Flats in 1770 the 

 speaker of the Six Nations performed the ceremony for the dead, 

 on Johnson's behalf, " and delivered the several belts for the several 

 purposes on such occasions, covering the graves with a black belt, 

 they answering with a Yo-hah, customary on condolences." At Sir 

 William's own death a double belt covered his body, and a belt of 

 six rows his grave, but this was a simple sign of mourning. 



L. H. Morgan described the mourning council in the League of 

 the Iroquois, p. 115-22, but left out several striking features. He 



