THE NINE IROQUOIS TRIBES. 1666. [Paris Loe, 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 QUICHE-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. |
