THE TRADITIONAL NARRATIVE 



OF THE 



ORIGIN OF THE CONFEDERATION OF THE FIVE 



NATIONS 



COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE IROQUOIS 



Together with an account of the ancient customs, usages and ceremonies 

 in use by these nations in the choice and installation into office of their 

 Ro-de-ya-ner-shoh (lords or chiefs), including traditions relating to the lives 

 and characters of Dekanahwideh, the framer of the league, Hay-yonh-wa-tha 

 (Hiawatha), the lawgiver, Tha-do-da-ho and other leaders. 



The peculiar beginning of the Great Peace, 1 or the Great League 

 of the Five Nations at a time most ancient, is here told. 



The name of the place mentioned as the birthplace of Dekanah- 

 wideh 2 was called Kah-ha-nah-yenh, 3 somewhere in the neighbor- 

 hood of the Bay of Quinte. 



According to tradition, a woman 4 was living in that neighborhood 

 who had one daughter of stainless character who did not travel 

 away from home, but remained with her mother constantly, and 

 when she had attained the age of womanhood she had held no 

 manner of intercourse with any man. In the course of time, not- 

 withstanding, she showed signs of conception and her mother was 

 very much aggrieved. The mother, therefore, spoke to her daughter 

 and said : " I am going to ask you a question and I want you to tell 

 me the truth. What has happened to you and how is it that you are 

 going to bear a child?" Then the daughter replied and said, 

 " Mother I will tell you the truth, I do not know how I became with 

 child." 5 



Then the mother said : " The reply you give me is not sufficient 

 to remove my grief. I am sure that you did not tell me the full 

 truth concerning what I asked you." Then the daughter replied: 

 " I have indeed told you the whole truth concerning what you asked 

 me." Then the sorrowing mother said : " Of a truth, my daughter, 

 you have no love for me." 



1 Gaya"nasshago, in Onondaga ; Gayanes'sha"gowa, in Seneca. Derived 

 from Gayanes'sha, A compelling rule of virtue, and gowa, great, exalted. 



2 Dekanawi'da, Two water currents flowing together. 



3 Kanye n 'ge (Onon.), Among the flints, Flinty peace, cf. Hadineye"ge'ga, 

 They are Hint people. 



4 No father or husband ; that is, no male is mentioned in this family 

 until Dekanahwideh appears. 



5 A virgin (female) is called deyen'nowadon' ; (masc.) deha n nowa'do n ' 

 meaning, He is hidden; from nowa'do n ', hidden. Ye'wayei' is the word for 

 pure. 



