“By far Mississippi the Illini shrank, When the trail of the tortoise was seen on the bank. On the hills of New England, the Pequod turned pale, When the howl of the wolf swelled at night on the gale; And the Cherokee shook in his green smilling bowers, When the foot of the bear stamped his carpet of flowers.” As the Tuscaroras had been driven away, there were only five nations when the league was formed, but the exiles returned, and were admitted as one of the families of the Long House, in 1715. The first council fire was kindled on the north shore of the Onondaga lake; and, in the metaphorical language of the Indian, was spoken of as always burning, to indicate that the people were ever acting in concert. The Mohawks dwelt at the eastern door, and kept watch towards the rising sun. The Senecas were the western door, and were expected to defend the western lodge, that no enemy should enter towards the setting sun. The Onondagas were in the centre, and to them was committed the council brand and the wampum, and they were expected to understand the keeping of records by the wampum belt. There were created fifty Sachemships, all the Sachems being of equal authority—nine belonging to the Mohawk nation, nine to the Oneida, fourteen to the Onondaga, ten to the Cayuga, and eight to the Seneca nation. They had no separate territory over which each ruled, but, in general council, attended to the affairs of the whole. Formerly, when their numbers increased so that their fields could not furnish corn, nor their forests venison for so great a number, a band would go forth in search of new hunting-grounds, and thus be lost to their people and kindred. But now they were to belong to the confederacy wherever they might roam, and continue their allegiance. It was not for the purpose of conquering and subjugating that the new government was formed, though they hoped, by this means, better to defend themselves against their border enemies, yet they became very formidable in their consolidated strength, and carried a war of extermination among all the surrounding nations, who would not join the league, or leave them in peace. “Nought in the woods now their might could oppose, Nought could withstand their confederate blows— Banded in strength, and united in soul, They moved on their course with the cataract’s roll.” Their names were very significant, and whether belonging to persons or places, were descriptive of something in their lives or national history. To the Onondagas belonged the privilege of naming the Sachems, when the league was formed, and as these names were to descend to all the Sachems of posterity, it was a perpetual honor to the nation. In council they were addressed as Ho-de-sau-no-gata—name-bearers. Onondaga signifies on the hills, as their principal village, at the time they became known, was upon an eminence overlooking a beautiful country.