Nation), being the people who are as the _Feeble Bushes_, shall be
chosen, a Virgin, who shall be the peacemaker for all the nations of the
earth, and more particularly the favored Ako-no-shu-ne, which name this
confederacy shall ever sustain. If we unite in one band the Great Spirit
will smile upon us, and we shall be free, prosperous and happy; but if we
shall remain as we are we shall incur his displeasure. We shall be
enslaved, and perhaps annihilated forever.

"Brothers, these are the words of Hiawatha. Let them sink deep into your
hearts. I have done."

A deep and impressive silence followed the delivery of this speech. On
the following day the council again assembled to act on it. High wisdom
recommended this deliberation.

The union of the tribes into one confederacy was discussed and
unanimously adopted. To denote the character and intimacy of the union
they employed the figure of a single council-house, or lodge, whose
boundaries be co-extensive with their territories. Hence the name of Ako-
no-shu-ne, who were called the Iroquois.

The great bird which visited them from heaven brought a precious gift to
the warriors in the white plumes which she shed at the visit. Every
warrior, as he approached the spot where they fell, picked up a feather
of snowy white to adorn his crown; and the celestial visitant thus became
the means of furnishing the aspirants of military fame with an emblem
which was held in the highest estimation. Succeeding generations imbibed
the custom from this incident to supply themselves with a plumage
approaching it as nearly as possible; they selected the plume of the
white heron.