Rome Free Academy - De O Wain Sta Yearbook (Rome, NY)

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Tur SENIOR ANNUAL 19. their couches hung rows of ripened maize forming a “ golden tapestry.” On long winter evenings, when the wilderness outside was snapping and cracking with cold and the forest paths were all filled in with snow, the separate families would gather about their own fires and with jest and laugh the pipe would be passed around from one to another. If an old warrior happened to be in the group, he very often told them stories of ancient heroism, spirits, monsters or witches. The life of the Iroquois was one of excitement and sharp contrast. Most of the time they were engaged either in the chase, war, dancing or some political strife. When the sachems determined to make war on another tribe, they sent out messengers to notify their followers. The warriors, after fasting, praying, consulting omens and dancing the war- dance, took up their rude weapons and put on their bark armor, to start in pur- suit of the objects of their resentment. While they were gone, their relatives and friends waited in anxious expecta- tion for their return. When, all at once, they were made aware of the ap- proach of their warriors by their shrill war-cry, they would snatch up knives, hatchets and stones and would run to meet them and to torment the captives, finally ending up by burning them. The torture of captives was the great- est pleasure of the Iroquois. But besides this, they had other enjoyments, for each season had its numerous festivi- ties and dances. The older men de- lighted in frequent councils, in which they laughed and jested, as well as deliberated the public welfare. With their “ boundless pride and lust of blood and dominion,” the Iroquois conquered four other members of their great family, besides subduing the Senape, belonging to the Algonquins, and driving the Ottawas from their ter- ritory. The first of the four tribes to come in conflict with the confederates were the Hurons, who occupied the peninsula between Lake Huron and Lake Erie. The next to fall into the clutches of this fierce people was the Neutral Nation, which fol- lowed by the ruin of the Eries and the Andastes. The conquests of the I[ro- quois are certainly to be wondered at, when we think of the fact that at their best they could not have mustered four thousand warriors. As one author says, they were “like an island in a great Algonquin ocean.” was soon From the characteristics, customs and conquests of the Iroquois amongst the other Indians we will pass to the first appearance of white men in the midst of the wilderness of America and its inhabitants. With the white man came the great revolutions in all Indian warfare and industry, wrought by the introduction of gun powder and by the age of metals taking the place of the stone age. ‘The bark armor, flint weapons, and order of battle changed and each warrior fought for himself. Iron kettles, steel knives, hoes and hatchets soon took the place of the less durable stone and bone uten- sils. This made the Indian greatly dependent on the white man. The first battle with the confederates, in which a white man took part, was led by Champlain, incited by his own spirit of adventure. The parties met on the shores of the lake which bears his name, but when the Iroquois saw the shining armor of the white leader they became terrified and fled. The Six Nations, hating the French for fighting against them, desired the friendship of the Dutch as a matter of convenience. They wanted to buy ammunition and