The case is this, every Nation is divided into a Certain Number of Tribes, of which some have 3. as the Turtle, Bear & Wolf, to weh others add the Snake, Deer, &ca, each of These Tribes form a Little Community within the Nation, and

_as the Nation has its peculiar Symbol so each Tribe has the

peculiar Badge from whence it is denominated, and a Sachem of each Tribe being a necessary party to a fair Conveyance such Sachim affixes the Mark of the Tribe thereto, weh is not that of a particular family (unless the whole Tribe is sodeemed) but - rather as the publick Seal of a Corporation.

As this Letter is already of an Immoderate Length, I shall ouly at present add, that with respect to the Deed of 1726, of weh you sent me the Signatures, The Transaction was in some measure ofa partial nature, weh I can anothertime Explain. All the Nations of the Confed¢y did not Subseribe it, and those Chiefs that did neglected to pay due regard [to] their proper Symbols, but signed agreeable to fancy, of which I have seen other Instances, altho' the manner I have mentioned is the most authentic and agreeable to their orig! practise.

As tothe information weh you observe I formerly Transmitted .o the Govt of N. York concerning the belt & 15 Bloody Sticks sent by the Mississagaes, The like is very Comon and the Inds use Sticks as well to Express the alliance of Castles as the number of Individuals ina party, These Sticks are generally abt 6 Inches in length & very slender & painted Red if the Subject is War but without any peculiarity as to Shape. Their belts are mostly black Wampum, painted red when they denote War they describe Castles sometimes upon them as square figures of White Wampum, & in Alliances Human figures holding a Chain of friendship, each figure representg a nation, an axe is also sometimes described weh is always an Emblem of War, The Taking it upisa Declaration | of war] and the burying it a token of Peace, Butas I have accounted for not entering into farther particulars at present, J shall conclude w*? assuring you that if these loose remarks prove of any use to you,I shall readily descend to any other matters of Information that may demonstrate how much I am Sir &e.