Putnam patriot., 1912-03-22

and Nature, relying always on the mighty "Manitou" for every need According 10 the legends of their descendants, there was once an Onon- daga, named Hiawatha, one who had been brought up with these people and who was dearly loved by them, b.. cause of his manly bearing Wishing to make his people more united, he proposed that a eonfederacy be formed among the surrounding tribes. He es- abolished government, which was meant to be a permanent and well conducted one. Each nation was to have its own council to manage all To- cal affairs. The general control was 10 be lodged in federal body, composed of representatives chosen by each na- ton and retained as long as their con- duet proved eommendable. The league should not be limited, but be in- definitely eXpansible until all tribes were taken in and peace should reign throughout. War should be abolished as far as possible. After Hiawatha was gone the people retained the idea of the eonlederaey, although not just according to his wishes.
 The date of the founding of this great alliance remains uncertain, but il probably occurred about l540. This league had much influence over most of the surrounding tribes. They claim ed to have dwelt originally far up the St. Lawrence, but were driven south ward by their rivals, the Algonquins.
 The confederacy included five great nations, namely: The Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Cayugas and the Senecas. To the league vari- ous names are given such as, Ongwe- honwe, meaning "superior men" and Hodenosaunee, meaning, ''they form a cabin" From the latter was derived the term, "Lopg House" by which the league was more widely known. As Onondaga was the most central place, it was chosen for the council-fire or headquarters of the league.
 Il is said that at the time of the dis covery of America, these Indians, more commonly known as Iroquois, controlled the vast extent of land from Ohio all along the Great Lakes and as far south as Chesapeake Bay. At this time they were probably at their high est power.
 In l609 when Champaign was ex- ploring Canada, he found the Irequois at war with all the Cananian Indians Allying himself with the Hurons, he attacked and finally conquered the confederated Indians. But the TO- quois obtained firearms from the Dutch with whom they were on friendly terms, and invaded Canada. They made peace with the French in l645, but renewed the war ih the fol lowing year. After killing or absorb ing greater part Of the Hurons, they again made peace, as the French were beginning to make a settlement at Onondsga. In spite of the efforts of the Jesuit missionaries to convert them 10 Christianity, the lroquois "dug up the hatchetn and drove back the Fries, Togas, and other tribes, thereby ex. tending their power to Illinois. Soon afterwards they wsged war on the French again and were shortly threatening and defying New Eng- land. Next they avenged the long. remembered defeat dealt the Mohawks by the Susquehannas.
 The iroqaois were at peace with the English, so thai when the English were trying to get control over the fur trade, they sent their red allies out against hostile tribes. During the years 1889, I690 and 1881, the Iroquois forced The French northward and were even bold enough to lay siege to