In their account of the transaction the Delawares claimed that they were appointed as peace-makers in an honorable manner, although the Iroquois deceived them as to their object. The Lenape account is as follows:-- "The Iroquois sent messengers to the Delawares with the following speech:-- "'It is not well that all nations should war; for that will finally bring about the destruction of the Indians. We have thought of a means to prevent this before it is too late. Let one nation be The Woman. We will place her in the middle, and the war nations shall be the Men and dwell around the Woman. No one shall harm the Woman; and if one does, we shall speak to him and say, 'Why strikest thou the Woman?' Then all the Men shall attack him who has struck the Woman. The Woman shall not go to war, but shall do her best to keep the peace. When the Men around her fight one another, and the strife waxes hot, the Woman shall have power to say: 'Ye Men! what do ye that ye thus strike one another? Remember that your wives and children must perish, if ye do not cease. Will ye perish from the face of the earth?' Then the Men shall listen to the Woman and obey her.' "The Delawares did not at once perceive the aim of the Iroquois, and were pleased to take this position of the Woman. "Then the Iroquois made a great feast, and invited the Delawares, and spoke to their envoys an address in three parts. "First, they declared the Delaware nation to be the Woman in these words:-- "'We place upon you the long gown of a woman, and adorn you with earrings.' "This was as much as to say that thenceforward they were not to bear arms. "The second sentence was in these words:-- "'We hang on your arm a calabash of oil and medicine. With the oil you shall cleanse the ears of other nations that they listen to good and not to evil. The medicine you shall use for those nations who have been foolish, that they may return to their senses, and turn their hearts to peace.' "The third sentence intimated that the Delawares should make agriculture their chief occupation. It was:-- "'We give herewith into your hands a corn pestle and a hoe.' "Each sentence was accompanied with a belt of wampum. These belts have ever since been carefully preserved and their meanings from time to time recalled."[174] Opinions of historians about this tradition have been various. It has generally been considered a fabrication of the Delawares, to explain their subjection in a manner consoling to their national vanity. Gen. Harrison dismisses it as impossible;[175] Albert Gallatin says, "it is too incredible to require serious discussion;"[176] Mr. Hale characterizes it as "preposterous;"[177] and Bishop de Schweinitz as "fabulous and absurd"[178].