452 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



vals, a bunch at a time, and hung on another stick. The curtain is 

 then again suspended, and the mourners sing till it is once more 

 removed. Then they return the wampum, bunch by bunch, saying, 

 " You said," and repeating the words already given. The new 

 chief is then presented for installation. The wampum has no refer- 

 ence to the ancient song containing the 52 names of the principal 

 chiefs, but to the shorter song here given. 



The seven bunches used in the council house are here illustrated 

 by a set lent to the writer by the Rev. Albert Cusick of the Onon- 

 daga reservation. He translated the song of the Younger Brothers 

 for Horatio Hale, and this translation is here used, with references 

 to the wampum in due order. Of this part of the ceremony Mr 

 Hale said nothing. It is to be observed that changes are made 

 according to the parties bereaved. 



The speaker takes from the stick a bunch of three strings of 

 purple wampum, about 50 beads long, carrying it to the mourners, 

 and makes the following speech: 



I Now — now this day — now I come to your door where you are 

 mourning in great darkness, prostrate with grief. For this reason 

 we have come here to mourn with you. I will enter your door, and 

 come before the ashes, and mourn with you there; and I will speak 

 these words to comfort you. 



Now our uncle has passed away, he who used to work for all 

 that they might see the brighter days to come — for the whole body 

 of warriors, and also for the whole body of women, and also the 

 children that were running around, and also for the little ones 

 creeping on the ground, and also those that are tied to the cradle 

 boards; for all these he used to work that they might see the bright 

 days to come. This we say, we three brothers. 



Now the ancient lawgivers have declared — our uncles that are 

 gone, and also our Elder Brothers — they have said it is worth 20 — 

 it was valued at 20 — and this was the price of the one who is dead. 

 And we put our words on it [i. e. the wampum] and they recall his 

 name — the one that is dead. This we say and do, we three 

 brothers. 



Now there is another thing we say, we Younger Brothers. He 

 who has worked for us has gone afar ofif; and he also will in time 

 take with him all these — the whole body of warriors, and also the 

 whole body of women — they will go with him. But it is still harder 

 when the woman shall die, because with her the line is lost. And 

 also the grandchildren and the little ones who are running around — - 



