New York State Museum Bulletin 



Application pending for admission as second-class matter at the Post Office at Albany, N. Y. 



under the act of August 24, 1912 



Published monthly by The University of the State of New York 



No. 184 



ALBANY, N. Y. 



April i, 1916 



The University of the State of New York 



New York State Museum 



John M. Clarke, Director 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 



BY 



ARTHUR C. PARKER 



PAGE 



The Iroquois constitution 7 



The Dekanawida legend 14 



The Code of Dekanahwideh 61 



Origin of the confederation of the 



Five Nations 65 



The condolence ceremony no 



The Hiawatha tradition 114 



Appendix A: The Passamaquoddy 



wampum records 119 



PAGE 



Appendix B : Sketches of an Indian 

 Council, 1846 126 



Appendix C: Minutes of the Six 

 Nations Council of 1839 133 



Appendix D: Minutes of the Coun- 

 cil of the Six Nations, upon the 

 Cattaraugus reservation 144 



Appendix E: Certain Iroquois tree 

 myths and symbols 152 



Index 157 



