THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 99 



arrived at a decision on the matter then they shall refer it back to 

 Hahyonhwatha and his colleagues. Then Hahyonhwatha will an- 

 nounce the decision to the opposite side of the council fire. 



1 Then Ohdahtshedeh and his colleagues will consider the matter 

 in question and when they have arrived at a decision they will refer 

 the matter to their brethren, the Cayugas, for their consideration 

 and after they have arrived at a decision, they will refer the matter 

 back to Ohdahtshedeh and his colleagues. Then Ohdahtshedeh 

 will announce their decision to the opposite side of the council fire. 

 Then Hahyonhwatha will refer the matter to Thadodahho and his 

 colleagues for their careful consideration and opinion of the matter 

 in question and if Thadodahho and his colleagues find that the 

 matter has not been well considered or decided, then they shall 

 refer the matter back again to the two sides of the council fire, 

 and they shall point out where, in their estimation, the decision 

 was faulty and the question not fully considered, and then the 

 two sides of the council will take up the question again and recon- 

 sider the matter, and after the two sides of the council have fully 

 reconsidered the question, then Hahyonhwatha will again refer it 

 to Thadohahho and his colleagues, then they will again consider 

 the matter and if they see that the decision of the two sides of the 

 council is correct, then Thadodahho and his colleagues will confirm 

 the decision." 



Then Dekanahwideh further said : " If the brethren of the 

 Mohawks and the Senecas are divided in their opinion and can not 

 agree on any matter which they may have for their consideration, 

 then Hahyonhwatha shall announce the two decisions to the oppo- 

 site of the council fire. Then Ohdahtshedeh and his brother col- 

 leagues, after they have considered the matter, and if they also are 

 divided in their decision, shall so report, but if the divided factions 

 each agree with the decision announced from the opposite side of 

 the council, then Ohdahtshedeh shall also announce their two de- 

 cisions to the other side of the council fire ; then Hahyonhwatha 

 shall refer the matter to Thadodahho and his colleagues who are 

 the fire keepers. They will fully consider the matter and whichever 

 decision they consider correct they will confirm." 



Then Dekanahwideh said : " If it should so happen that the lords 

 of the Mohawks and the lords of the Senecas disagree on any 

 matter and also on the opposite side of the council fire, the lords of 

 the Oneidas and the lords of the Cayugas disagree among them- 

 selves and do not agree with either of the two decisions of the 

 4 



