THE GREAT PEACE

Continued from last week

The Onondaga Nation, the People of the Hills, had been approached before. They wanted to join the peace league but had hes­itated to agree openly because of their great fear of Adadarho. When a messenger approached them, however, they agreed to grasp the Tree of Peace. At the great council of the Mohawks, when all of the people were present, Deganahwideh and Hiawatha reported all that had been done during the five successive years. Deganahwideh said that he had obtained the consent of the Five Nations, the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Senecas, and Cayugas, to form a peace com­pact for the union of the Nations. He said that these Five Nations had agreed to bury their differences and establish a great peace league whose aim was to eventually take in all of the tribes; its object, to do away with war.

Deganahwideh then said that they must find out where the fire of Adadarho burned, that it was he who was the cause of much trouble between the nations of men. “We must seek him out and cure his crooked mind.” said the Great Chief.

The Mohawk speaker for the council agreed and confirmed all that Deganahwideh had said. Deganahwideh then asked for two scouts (Wolves) who would offer to seek out the smoke of Adadarho. Two men quickly offered to become scouts. The head man asked them if they had the ability of the animals and birds of the forests, for such they must have if they were clever enough to approach the terrible warrior and not be caught. The two volunteers said that they would be as clever as herons and cranes. After looking them over, the head man said that they would not do because the heron and the crane would stop at the first river or lake for frogs and fish.

Again the head man asked for two scouts who would offer to seek out the smoke of Adadarho. Two men quickly offered to become scouts. The head man asked them if they had the ability of the animals and birds of the forests, for such they must have if they were clever enough to approach the terrible warrior and not be caught. The two volunteers said that they would be as clever as hummingbirds and would fly very swiftly. After looking them over, the head man said that they would not do because the hummingbird is always hungry and is always looking for flowers.

Again the head man asked for two scouts who would offer to seek out the smoke of Adadarho. Two men quickly offered to become scouts. The head man asked them if they had the ability of the ani­mals and birds of the forests, for such they must have if they were clever enough to approach the terrible warrior and not be caught. The two volunteers said that they would be as clever as the white crane. After looking them over, the head man said that they would not do because the white crane is very wild and easily frightened, that they would fly in terror when the clouds moved and would forget their mission.

Again the head man asked for two scouts who would offer to seek out the smoke of Adadarho. Two more men asked to be allowed to seek out Adadarho’s fire. They said that they would be like crows and would fly straight to the lodge of the terrible war-chief. The Head man said that they would not do, as crows are too noisy, that they talk too loudly, boast, and are full of mischief. Adadarho would hear them long before they found his fire.

Again the head man asked for two scouts who would offer to seek out the smoke of Adadarho. Finally two skilled warriors stepped for­ward and offered to serve as scouts. They said that they were strong as the deer and bear and had their power.

These two were chosen to seek the smoke of the war-chief. The head man, the speaker for the council, reported that the two scouts were ready for their trial. The two scouts travelled through the forest on their mission. They traveled toward the south wind, the “Little Fawn.”

Deganahwideh spoke to the Mohawk Council. “I and my younger brother, Hiawatha, stand before you. We now place before you the laws by which to frame the Great Peace,” said Deganahwideh. The great leader said, “The symbol of our Peace League will be the Tree of Peace, the white pine. Watching over the welfare of our people and perched upon the Tree of Peace will be the eagle, guardian bird of our people. His far-seeing eyes will warn us of the approach of enemies.

Under the Tree of Peace we must bury all the weapons of war and bloodshed. Men of the Five Nations must unite and always act as one heart, one mind, and one soul. They must forever spread good will and brotherhood among all nations, always remembering the main object of the Confederacy is to make possible … peace, prosperity, power, and equality for all!

“The emblems of the leaders of the Confederacy shall be the antlers of the deer. The chieftainship titles of the clans of the Nations (heron, eel, deer, bear. Wolf, turtle, snipe, beaver, eagle) shall be placed in the hands of certain women and the titles or names of these chiefs shall be held in the families of the mothers forever.”

Deganahwideh then recited all the laws of the Confederacy, recording each with a string of wampum. Hiawatha confirmed all that Deganahwideh said. Deganahwideh then sang the song that was to be used in the ceremony when a leader received his chieftainship title. Chiefs were to have the power but they must abide by the will of the people. A chief must think of the welfare of his people above all things. His own interests must always come last. The Head Man told the chief and the people that they must never forget the Great Spirit, that they must always ask his aid and power to help them be good leaders. The chiefs must firmly grasp the Tree of Peace. They must never forget the purpose for which the League was formed.

The scouts then returned to the Mohawk Council. They reported to the leaders and to Deganahwideh. The scouts reported that they had discovered the fire of Adadarho at great danger to themselves. They said that the hair of the warrior resembled live snakes, that when Adadarho was angry the snake hair seemed to hiss and spit. They reported that the body of the terrible war-chief was deformed, that it had seven crooks in it. The scouts said that he always held a war-club knotted in his hands, which are like the claws of a wild animal. “He is a cannibal,” they said.

Deganahwideh then walked back and forth before the Long House. He sang the Hymn of Peace and other sacred songs. He taught the people the Hymn of Peace. Many people came and learned the Peace Hymn. They were made strong with the power of the songs. Hymn of Peace had great power.

When the grass was knee high, when the season was midsummer, Deganahwideh called all of the People of Flint together, men, women children. He chose one man to go ahead. This man was to approach Adadarho and sing the Hymn of Peace before his lodge. They, the Mohawk People, travelled toward the west wind, toward the “Great Panther.” The singer led the company through the forests singing the Peace Songs as he went. The Mohawks followed the singer. There were many tracks through the forests made by the many people. Many old villages and camping places were passed as they went toward the Onondaga country. The names of the villages were lifted to give to the Clan Name Holders. Now they were in the territory of the People of the Upright Stone, the Oneidas. There they met the great Oneida Chief Quiver Bearer with his chiefs and his people. All of the two nations, the Mohawks and Oneidas, marched on toward the country of the Hill People, the Onondaga, the singer of the Peace Songs going ahead. As the Mohawks and Oneidas walked together through the forests, they met the Great Pipe People, the Cayuga, and also the People of the Great Mountain, the Senecas. They greeted each other in friendship and the great throng headed toward the country of the People of Hills. Together the trails of all four nations, Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, and Senecas, marched through the forests toward the Onondaga settlements.

When the country of the Onondagas was reached, the people halted their march. They kindled a fire as was customary. The chiefs the Onondagas welcomed them. A great multitude marched to the fireside of Adadarho. The singer of the Hymn of Peace led the throng.

Continued next week