Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/427

Rh you to open your ears and hear a speech from our sisters, the governesses.

"Brother, our ancestors considered it a great offence to reject the counsels of their women, particularly of the female governesses. They were esteemed the mistresses of the soil. Who, said our forefathers, bring us into being? Who cultivate our lands, kindle our fires and boil our pots, but the women? They entreat that the veneration of their ancestors, in favor of women, be not disregarded, and that they may not be despised; the Great Spirit is their Maker. The female governesses beg leave to speak with the freedom allowed to women, and agreeably to the spirit of our ancestors. They entreat the great chief to put forth his strength and preserve them in peace, for they are the life of the nation."

A later instance occurred in May, 1S02, which is described in Stone's "Life of Brant." The Mohawk women held a council, called the chiefs to it, and spoke by strings of wampum. They said, "Uncles, some time ago the women of this place spoke to you, but you did not answer them, as you considered their meeting not sufficient." They remonstrated against the use of ardent drinks, and also against domestic feuds and dissensions. Brant's reply to the latter refers to woman's influence in the past: "Nieces, with respect to your request to bury all differences, we heartily comply with it, and thank you for the wisdom you showed in here interfering. It was the custom of our ancestors for the women, by their moderation, to heal up all animosities."

At a council at Grand River, June 30, 1804, "the sachems and principal war chiefs, warriors and principal women of the Six Nations," carefully considered some matters, and signed a report. Four of the signers were women, out of twenty-four in all. Names of the governesses and principal women appear in some New York land sales, but not in all alike.

At Canajoharie, in 1758, the chief women came to Sir William Johnson with a belt of wampum, the principal chiefs saying they had a message for him, apparently delivered by the chiefs. They wished him not to risk his life in going to Onondaga, and said, "We flatter ourselves you will look upon this our speech, and take the same notice of it as all our men do, who, when they are addressed by the women, and desired to desist from any rash enterprise, they immediately give way, where, before, everybody else tried to dissuade them from it and could not prevail."

The elders of the Indian women at Buffalo, May 14, 1791, came to Colonel Proctor, and said through their speaker, "You ought to hear and listen to what we women shall speak, as well as to the sachems, for we are the owners of this land, and it is ours. It is