THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 25 



Hayonhwatha said, " I do agree, I truly believe the truth of what 

 you say." 



Then Dekanawida said, " My younger brother, we shall now pro- 

 pose to the Mohawk council the plan we have made. We shall tell 

 our plan for a confederation and the building of a house of peace. 

 It will be necessary for us to know its opinion and have its consent 

 to proceed." 



The plan was talked about in the council and Dekanawida spoke 

 of establishing a union of all the nations. He told them that all the 

 chiefs must be virtuous men and be very patient. These should 

 wear deer horns as emblems of their position, because as he told 

 them their strength came from the meat of the deer. Then Hayonh- 

 watha confirmed all that Dekanawida had said. 



Then the speaker of the Mohawk council said, " You two, Dekana- 

 wida and Hayonhwatha, shall send messengers to the Oneida (Peo- 

 ple of the Stone) and they shall ask Odatshedeh if he will consider 

 the plan." 



When Odatshedeh had been asked he replied, " I will consider 

 this plan and answer you tomorrow." 



When the tomorrow of the next year had come, there came the 

 answer of the Oneida council, " We will join the confederation." 



So then the Mohawks (Kanyenga) sent two messengers to Onon- 

 daga asking that the nation consider the proposals of Dekanawida. 

 It was a midsummer day when the message went forth and the 

 Onondaga council answered, " Return tomorrow at high sun." So 

 the two great men returned home and waited until the next mid- 

 summer. Then the midday came and the Onondaga council sent 

 messengers who said, " We have decided that it would be a good 

 plan to build the fire and set about it with you." Dekanawida and 

 Hayonhwatha heard this answer. 



So then at the same time Dekanawida and Hayonhwatha sent 

 messengers to the Cayuga nation and the answer was sent back. 

 The Cayugas said they would send word of their decision tomorrow, 

 upon the midsummer day. The next year at midsummer the 

 Cayugas sent their answer and they said, " We do agree with 

 Dekanawida and Hayonhwatha." 



Now the People of the Great Hill were divided and were not 

 agreed because there had been trouble between their war chiefs, but 

 messengers were sent to them but the Senecas could not agree to 

 listen and requested the messengers to return the next year. So 

 when the messengers returned the councils did listen and considered 



