The league of the Iroquois and other legends : from the Indian muse

viii
INTKODUCTION.
These characteristics, that were so strikingly exhibited
by the more warlike of the Indian race, and that were
possessed in common by many of the northern tribes,
reached in the Iroquois their highest expression and finest
exemplification.
" The Iroquois
is the Indian of Indians," says Parkman.
" In this remarkable family of tribes occur the
fullest development of Indian character, and the most
conspicuous examples of Indian intelligence."
Previous to
the discovery of the Continent by Columbus
the scattered tribes had joined themselves together in
a League of Alliance, the principles of which have been
the wonder of philosophers, and with a governmental
polity that has w6n the admiration of statesmen.
Of the date of the confederacy of the Five Nations
the great Aquan-uschi-oni League there can be only
conjecture. The native historian, David Cusic, gives a
chronology of thirteen successions of chiefs before the appearance
of the White Man. There is probably in this
record an element of truth; all that is certainly known,
however, is that these uncivilized tribes, banded together
for a common end of protection and defense, and not
always in accord, surrounded by other tribes more savage
than themselves, with only the bow and arrow and the
rudest implements of warfare, not only held together for
hundreds of years, but steadily grew in strength, intelligence,
material comforts and social amenities.
Mr. Morgan says, in his League of the Iroquois:
" They
achieved for themselves a more remarkable civil organization,
and acquired a higher degree of influence, than any
other race of Indian lineage, except those of Mexico and