Henry found it so.
Hahiron finished his round and went back to his place by the
fire. Atotarho, head chief of the Onondagas, holding in his
hands beautifully beaded strings of Iroquois wampum, came forward
and made a speech of condolence, to which Kathlahon responded.
Then the head chiefs and the minor chiefs smoked pipes together,
after which the head chiefs, followed by the minor chiefs, and
these in turn by the crowd, led the way back to the village.
Many hundreds of persons were in this procession, which was still
very grave and solemn, every one in it impressed by tile sacred
nature of this ancient rite. The chief entered the great door of
the Long House, and all who could find places not reserved
followed. Henry went in with the others, and sat in a corner,
making himself as small as possible. Many women, the place of
whom was high among the Iroquois, were also in the Long House.
The head chiefs sat on raised seats at the north end of the great
room. In front of them, on lower seats, were the minor chiefs of
the three older nations on the left, and of the three younger
nations on the right. In front of these, but sitting on the bark
floor, was a group of warriors.
Pages:
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114