IROQUOIS MYTHS AND LEGENDS 



139 



On their final settlement the Iroquois, declaring severalty of 

 estate possessions, divided into separate bands. The Oneidas and 

 Onondagas, originally one nation, became independents and 

 divided from each other. The Senecas and Cayugas, who had 

 united, eventually drifted apart, and the Mohawks announced 

 exclusive proprietorship of their own accumulated lands. From 

 this disunion alienations followed which gradually resulted in an 

 open warfare that was continued for generations. 



During this condition of hostility an inspiration of peace, sug- 

 gesting unity of power by the confederation of the five nations, 

 came to one of the wise men of the Onondaga nation, Da-ga-no-we- 

 da, the founder of the League of the Iroquois. 



At that time the Onondagas were 

 JBk suffering the tyranny and cruelty of 

 i& the ruling chief To-do-da-ho, who, as 



W 'J symbol of his dreaded power, was rep- 



TL~-J resented crowned with living snakes, 

 W^j his fingers and toes terminating with 

 \J the hissing monsters and, by the glance 

 Perforated wampum shells from of his eye, turning to stone any one 

 central New York wno dared deny his authority Da-ga- 



no-we-da, repelling this creature of horror, and conceiving a way 

 of release for his people, sagaciously flattered the vanity of 

 To-do-da-ho and, to perfect his plans, endeavored to enlist his 

 favor as an associate. The crafty To-do-da-ho, consenting to 

 a hearing, evoked a council fire, which was kindled from the 

 willow, and summoned the nation to consider the project of Da-ga- 

 no-we-da. In the sympathetic attention with which the people 

 listened to the persuasions of Da-ga-no-we-da, To-do-da-ho foresaw 

 loss of his power and, with malevolent cunning, rejected the propo- 

 sitions of Da-ga-no-we-da as an interference with the government 

 and, threatening vengeance, expelled him from the council forever. 

 The terrified Onondagas, dreading the despotic will of their monster 

 chief, dared not sustain Da-ga-no-we-da who, sorrowing, left his 

 people and journeyed " to the west of the rising sun " toward the 

 land of the Mohawks. 



Notwithstanding his rejection, Da-ga-no-we-da was yet hopeful 

 of the consummation of his project for uniting the five nations and 

 in his travels while crossing a lake, supposed to be the Oneida, he 

 noticed quantities of minute purple and white shells adhering to 

 the paddle of his canoe. As he neared the shore he discovered them 

 heaped in long rows upon the bank. These suggested to his con- 



