THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 3 1 



Adodarhoh, Hononwirehtonh or Skanawatih, Fire Keepers, or to 

 their War Chiefs with a full statement of the case desired to be con- 

 sidered. Then shall Adodarho call his cousin (associate) Lords 

 together and consider whether or not the case is of sufficient im- 

 portance to demand the attention of the Confederate Council. If 

 so, Adodarhoh shall dispatch messengers to summon all the Con- 

 federate Lords to assemble beneath the Tree of the Long Leaves. 



When the Lords are assembled the Council Fire shall be kindled, 

 but not with chestnut wood, 1 and Adodarhoh shall formally open 

 the Council. 



Then shall Adodarhoh and his cousin Lords, the Fire Keepers, 

 announce the subject for discussion. 



The Smoke of the Confederate Council Fire shall ever ascend 

 and pierce the sky so that other nations who may be allies may see 

 the Council Fire of the Great Peace. 



Adodarho and his cousin Lords are entrusted with the Keeping 

 of the Council Fire. (4— IV, TLL). 



4 You, Adodarho, and your thirteen cousin Lords, shall faith- 

 fully keep the space about the Council Fire clean and you shall 

 allow neither dust nor dirt to accumulate. I lay a Long Wing be- 

 fore you as a broom. As a weapon against a crawling creature I 

 lay a staff with you so that you may thrust it away from the Coun- 

 cil Fire. If you fail to cast it out then call the rest of the United 

 Lords to your aid. (3— III, TLL). 



5 The Council of the Mohawk shall be divided into three parties 

 as follows : Tekarihoken, Ayonhwhathah and Shadekariwade are 

 the first party ; Sharenhowaneh, Deyoenhegwenh and Oghrengh- 

 rehgowah are the second party, and Dehennakrineh, Aghstawen- 

 serenthah and Shoskoharowaneh are the third party. The third 

 party is to listen only to the discussion of the first and second par- 

 ties and if an error is made or the proceeding is irregular they are 

 to call attention to it, and when the case is right and properly de- 

 cided by the two parties they shall confirm the decision of the two 

 parties and refer the case to the Seneca Lords for their decision. 

 When the Seneca Lords have decided in accord with the Mohawk 

 Lords, the case or question shall be referred to the Cayuga and 

 Oneida Lords on the opposite side of the house. (5-V, TLL). 



6 I, Dekanawidah, appoint the Mohawk Lords the heads and the 

 leaders of the Five Nations Confederacy. The Mohawk Lords are 



1 Because chestnut wood in burning throws out sparks, thereby creating 

 a disturbance in the council. 



