Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/430

88 we that plant it for our and their use. Hear us, therefore, for we speak of things that concern us and our children, and you must not think hard of us while our men shall say more to you. for we have told them."

One right the Iroquois women always had, though inclined to relinquish it now. As children were theirs especially, following their nation and clan, so it was and is their business to nominate the chiefs. Lafitau said the chief matron of the clan conferred with these of her own cabin, and nominated the new chief from among the children of the aunts, sisters, or nieces on the maternal side. It is much the same now, but some changes have already come, and others will soon follow. In one of the condoling songs woman's importance in perpetuating a noble line is recognized. The dead chief is bewailed, "but it is still harder when the woman shall die, because with her the line is lost."

On this was founded one remarkable Huron and Iroquois custom. There are some notes on atonement for murder among the Hurons, in the Relation for 1648. "For a Huron killed by a Huron thirty gifts are commonly deemed a sufficient satisfaction. For a woman forty are required, because, as they say, the women are less able to defend themselves; and, moreover, they being the source whence the land is peopled, their lives should be deemed of more value to the commonwealth, and their weakness should have a stronger support in public justice." Loskiel said, "For the murder of a man 100 yards of wampum, and for that of a woman 200 yards must be paid by the murderer."

Allusion has been made to the fact that Iroquois women, however influential politically and socially, did not speak in their councils. Early writers take notice of this, and the custom continued. In 1791 Colonel Proctor attended a Seneca feast, where he saw a wooden, statue before which they danced. "Under this statue were placed two chiefs, termed the women's speakers The old and the young women danced around in a circle," etc. The same gentleman went to a council in Buffalo that year, to "hear what would be said by the women speaker, the young prince of the Turtle tribe (Red Jacket) Being arrived, the first, matter unusual that presented itself were the elders of the women seated near the chiefs." Red Jacket gave their plea for peace.

Miss Powell gave an account of an Indian council at Buffalo in 1785. She probably exaggerated the number of chiefs, of whom she said 200 were seated in proper order, representing the Six Nations. Each nation formed a motionless circle under its own tree, against which its speaker stood. The women walked in one by one, and seated themselves behind the men. They are often quiet attendants