Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Any belt could be used as a war belt by painting it red. It is provided thus: The title names of the War Chiefs of the League shall be as follows:

Ayonewehs, War Chief under Chief Takarihoken (Mohawk)

Kahonwaitiron, War Chief under Chief Otatsheteh (Oneida)

Ayentes, War Chief under Chief Atotarho (Onondaga)

Wenens, War Chief under Chief Dekaenyon (Cayuga)

Shoneratowaneh, War Chief under Chief Skanyatariio (Seneca)

It is provided thus: The women heirs of each head chief’s title shall be the heirs of the War Chief’s title of their respective chief. It is provided thus: When the men of the League, now called forth to become warriors, are ready for battle with an obstinate opposing nation that had refused to accept the Great Peace, then one of the five War Chiefs shall be chosen by the warriors of the League to lead the army into battle. It shall be the duty of the War Chief so chosen to come before his warriors and address them. His aim shall be to impress upon them the necessity of good behavior and strict obedience to the commands of the War Chiefs. He shall deliver on oration exhorting them with great zeal to be brave and courageous and never to be guilty of cowardice. At the conclusion of his oration he shall march forward and commence a War Song, and he shall sing.

Now I am greatly surprised

And therefore I shall use it,

The power of my War Song.

I am of the Five Nations,

And I shall make an appeal

To the mighty Creator.

He has furnished this army.

My warriors shall be mighty

In the strength of the Master of Life.

Between him and my song they are,

For it was he who gave the song.

This War Song that I sing.

It is provided thus: When the warriors of the Five Nations are on an expedition against the enemy, the War chief shall sing the War Song as he approaches the country of the enemy and not cease until his scouts have reported that the army is near the enemy’s lines, wherein the War Chief shall approach with great caution and prepare for the attack.

It is provided thus: When peace shall have been established by the termination of the war against a foreign nation, the War Chief shall cause all the weapons of the war to be taken from the nation. Then the Great Peace shall be established and that nation shall observe all the rules of the Great Peace for all time to come.

It is provided thus: Whenever a foreign nation is conquered or has by their own will accepted the Great Peace, their own system of internal government may continue, but they must cease all warfare against other nations. This certain wampum belt of black background beads shall be the emblem of the authority of the Five War Chiefs to take up the weapons of war and with their men to resist invasions. This shall be called a war in defense of the territory.