The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-07-12
A Memorable Council.

A strange and memorable gathering
took place at Glen Iris, on the Genesee
River, not far from Buffalo, on the first
of October, 1S72-no account of which
has heretofore appeared. This was the
latest, and probably the last council of
the famous Iroquois League, known as
the Five, and afterward as the Six
Nations Mr.. David Gray, the editor of
the Buffalo Courier, who was present
at the council, prints full report of the
proceedings, with illustrations, in the
July number of Scribner. The meeting
took place in the old Long House of the
Six Nations which has been restored by
Mr.. Letchman, whose home is in the
beautiful "Glen of the Rainbow" The
speeches as they appear translated in the
Monthly, are characteristic and most in
teresting specimens of Indian oratory.
We quote as follows:
The smoke of the emblematic fire, Lit
by one of the Indians, curled up from
the earthen floor of the council-house
and rose, blue pillar in the motionless
October air. The red men sat around
itsilent, looking at the consuming embers,
while through the open door sounded
from time to time the light rustic of the
falling leaf. Then uprose Noh-sahl, and
said in the Seneca language:
Brothers: The fire in lighted. The
council has convened, and is now ready
to hear what you have to say"
The first speaker was Nicholson II.
Parker Gai-wah-go-way], who pro-
nounced in the uncouth, but not musical
syllables of his native tongue, and with
frequent evidence of deep emotion,
what he himself had translated as fol
lows:
Brothers: 1 will first say a fewwords.
We have come as representatives of the
Seneca nation to participate in the cere-
monies of the day. In this ancient coun-
cil-house, before its removal to this spot,
our fathers, sachems and chiefs, often
met to diliberate on matters of moment
to our people in the village of Ga-o-yah-
de-o Caneadeal. We are here to rake
over the ashes on its hearth, that we
may find perchance single spark with
which to rekindle the fire, and cause the
smoke again to rise above this roof, as in
the days that are past. The smoke is
curling upward, and the memories of the
past are enwreathed with it.
brothers: When the confederacy OF
the Iroquois was formed, smoke was
ta Siseu ,ta G,on aS'? - ond ~ tuo1ad nT Th. a.,
fon,,a Ino - v.on fo,rod Sam - 49, bn 1onnhofnro
I I ma1 roi ne1 go ~ 4i1S FL u1tu,e n',
aoI;t;ani rn1 Hom ous+onoo VI i'a' i'ain n"u an
P m0ur e. - H. 81 tho uodonosuon
Out uei ta'ncie VI lne no.e"ae enore,'I ~
long IIo rto..se W.T. VIII ?hoe a pomel4ui el4 III. Ia
tn .ion dne ;olueI ~ ~ W. otei saSS aS W, !,
20 o3fy No Rnr se or se staIt faIt
f. from eH tho Hudson md % to tba pImT hanLs we" nf I the
M;sS;ss;nn; and from tbe areat basins 81
swoot ,Tator in tbo nort5 | to tbe b;tte,
9"eeU "s'1i IL n S i Ci,1s " S w W. ysvu, L"u,
walels s vi Ine neAican uut' &c We WE nave I'.e
Uasueu away Do. w .LenL ieS III ~ Ei,aS We
ars VIZ ave VET I,oan;s nu; snntad v u horn n
W. w. hono ae doIdratas ts u fro,n tbe WohawtS I
IL w na,o aoeo., - of t,'a . o,s+onn A.,
W mI 49, Ie Ionn e honia ond @ ns tSo Saneoas U
U nho siu oro , @hn % o1o,d;aus Gnu nf 4ho woStor1
Jaor WI r. H.. arns Of Gonoro
SuIi;vo, Sill rora m I beord G s th;s volIov w. %
Su,n, Syann an VIZ n' D.. - +S Laia - AZ, ",
Troomo;s ape peo seot+ered and will. % coon W. % h,
aoqu uolo a,e '0''V0A'"' anu WI '00'' ~
seen no more. W. :,
Drotners' t we are noiuing couhcil l
GerhaPs @ ioc tle !asI Illle, III 'enlsheu
IN Ihls !, peau'iful Iefrigoly was once ouL omil
Inc DOneS OF our IaGnorS are SGreWQ UQ1CklN