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

THE LEAGUE. 181
Round all his hand a circle drew
Hill, vale and mountain, plain and tree ;
In this was seen the witness true
Of Union that should endless be.
A thousand forms their meaning lent ;
Each type and symbol, understood,
Was seen the sign and instrument
Of Union and of Brotherhood.
And every line whose beauty graced
That strangely-written picture-scroll
That Hayo-went-ha's hand had traced,
Of Hayo-went-ha's wisdom told;
And where he stood, he, pointing to
Device and symbol, speaking thence,
From each its secret meaning drew,
Expounding
all 'its
wondrous sense.
Then forth the wampum-belt was brought
:
The precious beads were wove and strung,
Each with its mystic meaning fraught ;
The belt that speaks with wondrous tongue
The symbols' import still unfolds
That on the snowy parchment stood ;
The covenant and record holds
Deed of that noble Brotherhood. 51