presents ; but when a warrior was killed and scalped, or when, as with the Mohawks, the hatchet was left sticking in the head of

the victim, it was regarded as a declaration 6*f war. In such cases the war captains summoned their followers and addressed

" The bones of your murdered countrymen lie un covered they demand revenge at our hands, and it is our duty to obey them their spirits loudly call upon us, and we must satisfy them ; still greater spirits watching over our honor, inspire

them

:

;

;

us with a resolution to go in pursuit of the murderers of our brethren. Let us go and devour them Do not sit inactive !

!

Follow the impulse of your hereditary valor Anoint your Paint your faces hair Fill your quivers Make the woods echo with your voices Comfort the spirits of the deceased, and revenge their blood " The work of preparation for !

!

!

!

!

!

the field

was speedily performed

the weapons of war were

;

collected, a pouch of parched corn and

maple sugar prepared,

Then came the war dance and

and the body painted black. other nations, yet they have high and low

proportion to the number of troops under

and superior chiefs, whose authority remains hereditary in the

his

families;

houses.

inferior

The military

officers

are

disposed of only according to the valorous prowess of each person." Documentary History of New York, iv, 128. captain among the Indians, is what