Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-04
eRp INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
THE LEAGUE OF THE SIX NATIONS.

THE LEAGUE OF THE SIX NATIONS. The region of the Inland Sea, as Lake Ghamplafn was known, was the seat of the famous confederation of the Six Nations of the Iroquois In- dians. This league vas made up of it included only five tribes. These were the Mohawks, nearest Lake Champlain, the eastern border of the country the Oneidas, Onondagas, Gayu- gas, and Seneeans. About the begin ming of the eighteenth century the Tus- cahoras joined the others, making the six nations of the confersdation.
 The tradition is that the league was founded near the beginning of the fif- teenth century by Hiwatha, who was the Indians believed, perfect wisdom in the body of man. With the mission to teach the Iroquois people the knowl- edge of good living. he left his home
 in the skies in the person of a young
 man, lived with the 0pondagas around
 onondaga Lake, in New York state. When some of the fierce warriors came down from the North, staying men, wo- man and children az they came, 1t was on the banks of Lake Champlain that 1 council met with representatives of the five great nations of the race. Then and
 there HiawathA formed the famous | lesgue as related in L9ngfellow's poem of "HiaWatha.n The name that was giv- l en to the league means they form a
 cabin, and the people fancifully called | 1t The Long House ;' the eutermost na- tien en the east they called The Door." ,"
 This was the Mohawks, a fierce people
 who called themselves the Agmegue, or the race of tpe she-bear.
 | One of the chiefs in later times of
 the Mehawks was Joseph Brandt, the
 most powerful of the British allies in
 the war of the Revolution. The Sen
 ecss, 'the people of the great hill
 Jacket and Corn Blaatsr in later
 times, were eA the western frontier
 of the leaEue, while their great coun- cil fire vas held at the principal town
 af the 6nendagas, which stood a few
 miles seuta of the site of Syracuse.
 The territory of the several nations ef the league lay in what is now New York state west of the Catskills and
 mountains. 20 Americans a remark-
 able and most Interesting thing about
 the eelfederacy Is that it was an
 almost pHse asraecratie government. Each nstien was distinee republic.
 iHatpendsAt of ail other nations, as
 far as it's own priYate affairs were con- ceFned, hut bouEd to the others of the 1 league by ties of honor and general in- Fl tNafH biPt Ot Alf SIX NatlQns
 had a seal or tereh of its own, such as the rude sketch Of a wolf, bear,
 tortoise CT eagle, which was used as a natjeHal seai and a national flag. also
 perhaFs. In later times, when the
 EuroNsan canes. the sachem or civil
 head of the tribe affixed his tetem ike 'siNature Or if he could write ap- penaaa 1t te his name on all the pa-
 pers he was required to sign.
 , As each of the nations was divided
 into tribes there were thirty or forty
 saehens @ Ne, lR the league, and many Oth- meD gho held them got no pay for
 their services for they were awarded l opiy for merit, and any one who did . net do what was right ia his office
 was dismissed and sesrasd of bis peo-
 ph The Paptfs and duties of the prtyident were rnush like those of th< ptssdent of the Unitss States. v Il The chief of each tribe could cal q congress. had a cabinet of six ad- ytssFe and vas chairman of modera tor in the council. Nc one person
 Nnuld force aa action except as he