"We are here," replied Ho-das-ha-teh, senior roy-an-eh of the Oneidas.
"Are you here, O So-nus-ho-gwa-to-war, Great Pipe People?"
"We are here," replied Da-ga-a-yo of the Cayuga Deers.
"Are you here, O Dus-ga-o-weh-o-no, Shirt-Wearing People?"
"We are here," echoed a Tuscarora chief from the position of his people just outside the charmed circle of the roy-an-ehs.
Ho-yo-we-na-to raised his arms in a gesture of invocation.
"The peoples are here, O Founders who sit aloft with Ha-wen-ne-yu. Heed ye now, O peoples. I begin the Roll of the Great Ones."
And his resonant voice sounded like trumpet-blasts blown for a victory as he intoned the names of the roy-an-ehs, beginning with Da-ga-e-o-ga of the Mohawk Turtles and ending with Do-ne-ho-ga-weh of the Seneca Wolves. When, immediately after the name of Da-ga-e-o-ga, he called the names of the Founders, Ha-yo-wont-ha and Da-ga-no-we-da, he paused, and the immense concourse of Indians who stood and sat around the fringes of the meadow all turned their eyes skyward, as if expecting some demonstration from the Shining Ones.
Again the Keeper of the Wampum raised his arms in invocation. Then he took from the ground at his feet belt after belt of wampum, and from the designs woven into them recited, clearly and rapidly, the principal events in the recorded history of the League and the rules prescribed for the conduct of the Ho-yar-na-go-war. At the end of his recitative, which was crudely rhythmical, he addressed himself once more to the assemblage.
Under his direction the skin robes of the roy-an-ehs were deposited on the ground with the fagots in front of them. The Mohawks, Onondagas and Senecas, the senior nations, who were brothers to each other, were ranged on the eastern half of the circle, with the rising sun at their backs. The Cayugas and Oneidas, who were sons to the three senior nations, with the Tuscaroras sitting behind them, were on the western side.