Fig. 5.—Borders embroidered in moose hair on deer-skin garments. (Seneca specimens in the New York State Museum.) a is the “two curve” pattern common in Iroquoian decoration. b represents a series of “sky-domes” resting upon the earth, the two parallel horizontal lines. c represents a series of the “trees” of Iroquois symbolism. The unit of the design is indicated by m-n. d shows a series of suns and celestial trees resting on the sky-dome.
Another, and more elaborate, form of the “tree” as it appears in Iroquoian decorative art is a flowering plant or tree having conventionalized leaves (generally, “long leaves”), branches, buds, tendrils and flowers. See plate 2. In this plate (9) is shown the flowering tree as embroidered in porcupine quills on an Iroquois pouch collected by Lewis H. Morgan, and now in the New York State Museum. It will be perceived that here the diverging curved lines play a conspicuous part in the make-up of the tree. Like all Iroquois symbolic trees of the purely conventional type the tree is exactly balanced on each side of the central line that represents the trunk or stalk.
With the Huron these trees are, likewise, used as an adornment for bags and other things where a comparatively large surface is afforded. Dr. Speck illustrates one of these trees in the article on moose hair embroidery previously cited, and gives the Huron interpretation for the various parts of the tree. With the Huron, it is most interesting to note, the topmost flower is called not a flower but a star, thus suggesting some dim recollection of the “tree of light.”
The Confederated Iroquois made similar trees, though they interpret some of the parts differently. With them the significance of the tree is recognized. Mr. Hewitt describes the tree in his Onondaga creation myth.[[93]] His informants in relating the myth said: “And there beside the lodge stands the tree that is called Tooth (Ono’´djă’). Moreover, the blossoms this standing tree bears cause the world to be light, making it light for men-beings dwelling there.” This agrees with the Seneca version previously cited in this article.
Embroidered pouch made by the Seneca before 1850. Note tree and floral designs. Specimen in New York State Museum.
Scale x½.
The “Tree of Peace” symbolically planted by Dekānăwī´dă, as has been noted was called the “Tree of the Great Long Leaves.” It will be observed that the “tree of light” in nearly every case where leaves are shown at all has long sword-like leaves. This is true among the Huron in their older patterns, as among the Iroquois. The Huron, however, now call these long leaves “dead branches” and the unopened flowers “balsam fir.”[[94]] The Huron, as with most of the Iroquois, have likely forgotten or confused the true names of the elements of their designs. These designs, with the Huron at least, seem to have undergone some change due to the necessity for trade purposes of working their patterns in outline and quickly. It is most important to observe, however, that oftentimes when the object of using a symbol is primarily for decorative purposes, the Indian artist or needle-worker gives parts of the design “pattern names,” often at entire variance with the real meaning of the part but based upon real or fancied resemblance. With the Huron with whom the decorative element is now of primary importance this seems to have been the case. Indeed, Dr. Speck does not say that the parts of the designs which he illustrates are symbols though he does give the names which the Huron told him. The Huron are very likely making “trees of light” and do not know it, in this respect being similar to their Iroquois brethren. The designs are worked, as some of my Indian informants say, “because they are Indian” and likewise because they have become accustomed to them and because there seems nothing more appropriate to invent.
Fig. 6.—Various forms of the celestial tree. Here the unit is superposed to form the tree.
This instance suggests how with change of environment myths, symbols and ceremonial rites may lose their meaning and yet preserve their outward form.