THE NINE IROQUOIS TRIBES. 1666. [Paris Loc., I.] THE Iroquois Nation consists of nine tribes, which form two divisions; one of four tribes, and the other of five. They call the first division GUEY-NIOTITESHESGUE, which means the four tribes; and the second division they call it OUICHE-NIOTITESHESGUE, which means the five tribes. The first is that of the Tortoise, which calls itself Atiniathin. It is the first, because they pretend, when the Master of Life made the Earth, that he placed it on a tortoise; and when there are earthquakes, it is the tortoise that stirs. The second tribe is that of the Wolf, and calls itself Enanthayonni, or Cahenhisenhonon, and brother of the Tortoise tribe. When there is question of war they deliberate together; and if the affair is of great moment, they communicate it to the other tribes to deliberate together thereupon; so of all the other tribes. They assemble in the hut of a war-chief when the question is of war, and in the hut of a council-chief when it is for ordinary matters of state. The third tribe is that of the Bear, which they call Atinionguin. The fourth tribe is that of the Beaver, and brother to that of the Bear. These four tribes compose the first division, which they call Guey-niotiteshesgué. SECOND DIVISION. The fifth tribe is that of the Deer, which they name Canendeshé. The sixth is that of the Potatoe, which they call Schoneschio ronon. The seventh is that of the Great Plover, which they call Otinanchahé. The eighth is that of the Little Plover, which they call Asco, or Nicohes. The ninth is that of the Kiliou [Eagle], which they call Canonchahonronon. They call these five tribes Ouiche-niotiteshesgué. These nine tribes formerly occupied nine villages, which were finally collected together in order to sustain war more easily. The ninth tribe derives its origin from a cabin that was in the interior (dans les terres), and composed of several fires or establishments. In the middle of the cabin was a partition which divided the cabin in two. Weary of knowing no one, and consequently unable to marry, they all married among themselves; which is the reason that their name signifies two cabins united together. Each tribe has in the gable end of its cabin, the animal of the tribe painted; some in black, others in red. When they assemble together for consultation, the first Division ranges itself on one side of the fire in a cabin; and the other Division places itself on the other side. When the matter on which they have met has been discussed on one side and the other, they accompany the decision with much ceremony. The Division which decides the matter gives two opinions, so that the best may be adopted, and offers all possible opposition in proposing its opinions, in order to shew that it has well considered what it says. They adopt, usually, the first opinion, unless there be some strong motive to the contrary. When they go to war, and wish to inform those of the party who may pass their path, they make a representation of the animal of their tribe, with a hatchet in his dexter paw; sometimes a sabre or a club; and if there be a number of tribes together of the same party, each draws the animal of his tribe, and their number, all on a tree from which they remove the bark. The |