THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 63 



wrought into their own religious belief, as well perhaps as into the 

 story of the traditional nativity of this founder of the Iroquois 

 Confederacy. 



It was in recognition of the fact that all nations have a traditional 

 history similar to this one (and some of them have long since be- 

 come enlightened and educated to better things) which originated 

 with these people while they were yet in a crude state (notably, for 

 example, may be cited the English, Irish and Scotch legends and tra- 

 ditions) that this small fragment of Iroquois traditional history was 

 written by the chiefs, so that they might preserve it as other na- 

 tions have done. 



It is only natural for a people undergoing a transition from a 

 state of barbarism to that of civilization and Christianity to evince 

 a desire to have their past mythological legends and crude history 

 preserved. 



It was therefore at the request of, and by the authority of the 

 Six Nations' Council, that that portion of the traditional history of 

 this people relating to the formation of the League of the Five 

 Nations, together with the condolence ceremonies, now used in the 

 creation and induction into office of new chiefs as successors to 

 deceased members of the council, was written from dictation by the 

 ceremonial chiefs as follows : Chiefs Peter Powless, Mohawk ; Nico- 

 demus Porter, Oneida; William Wage and Abram Charles, Cayuga; 

 John A. Gibson, Seneca ; Thomas William Echo, Onondaga ; and 

 Josiah Hill, Tuscarora. Chiefs Josiah Hill and J. W. M. Elliott 

 were appointed to act as secretaries, with the express purpose of 

 having it published by the Department of Indian Affairs, so that 

 the future generations of the people of the Six Nations may have 

 preserved to them these traditions of their forefathers which other- 

 wise in time would become lost. 



Signed at Ohsweken Council House, Six Nations Reserve, On- 

 tario, Canada, August 17, 1900. 



Josiah Hill, Secretary Six Nations' Council. 



J. W. M. Elliott, Mohawk Chief, Secretary of the ceremonial 

 committee of Indian rites and customs. 



Indian words 



The meanings of some of the more difficult Indian words to be 

 found in this work are as follows : 



1 A-ka-rah-ji-ko-wah — A great swamp elm 



2 Ska-reh-heh-se-go-wah — The great tall tree 



