104 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



And if it so occurs that he can not see any way or place to escape 

 the calamity, he will then descend the tree. You will then look 

 for a great swamp elm tree (Aka-rah-ji-ko-wah) l and when you 

 have found one with great large roots extending outwards and 

 bracing outwards from the trunk, there you will gather your heads 

 together." 



Then Dekanahwideh continued and said : " It will be hard and 

 your grandchildren will suffer hardship. And if it may so occur 

 that the heads of the people of the confederacy shall roll and 

 wander away westward, if such thing should come to pass, other 

 nations shall see your heads rolling and wandering away and 

 they shall say to you, ' You belong to the confederacy, you were a 

 proud and haughty people once,' and they shall kick the heads with 

 scorn, and they shall go on their way, but before they shall have 

 gone far they shall vomit up blood." (Meaning that the confed- 

 eracy shall still have power enough to avenge their people.) 



Then Dekanahwideh further said : " There may be another seri- 

 ous trouble. Other nations may cut or hack these four great roots 

 which grow from the great tree which we have planted and one of 

 the roots shoots to the north and one to the south and one to the 

 east and one to the west. Whenever such thing happens, then 

 shall great trouble come into the seat of your lords of the con- 

 federacy." 



Then Dekanahwideh said : " I shall now therefore charge each 

 of your lords, that your skin be of the thickness of seven spreads 

 of the hands 2 (from end of thumb to the end of the great finger) 

 so that no matter how sharp a cutting instrument may be used it 

 will not penetrate the thickness of your skin. (The meaning of the 

 great thickness of your skins is patience and forbearance, so that 

 no matter what nature of question or business may come before 

 you, no matter how sharp or aggravating it may be, it will not 

 penetrate to your skins, but you will forbear with great patience 

 and good will in all your deliberations and never disgrace your- 

 selves by becoming angry.) You lords shall always be guided in 

 all your councils and deliberations by the Good Tidings of Peace 

 and Power." 



Then Dekanahwideh said : " Now, you lords of the different 

 nations of the confederacy, I charge you to cultivate the good feel- 

 ing of friendship, love and honor amongst yourselves. I have now 



1 Gain'dadjikgo'na. 



2 Djaduk'nioyionk'gage', seven fingers. 



