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His bodily appearance was changed at the same time, and his aspect became so terrible that the story spread, and was believed, that his head was encircled by living snakes." The only importance of this story is in the evidence it affords that conduct so anti-social as that of Atotarho was deemed to be the result of a disordered mind.
Never since the Atotarho covered his face from Hiawatha never since the snakes were combed from his hair has a Priest of the Long House dared to doubt the Prophetess of the Seneca nation. Doubt and die!" Amochol's face was like pale brown marble; twice he half turned toward the executioner, but gave no signal.
The name of Odatsehte means "the quiver-bearer;" and as Atotarho, "the entangled," is fabled to have had his head wreathed with snaky locks, and as Hiawatha, "the wampum-seeker," is represented to have wrought shells into wampum, so the Oneida chief is reputed to have appeared at this treaty bearing at his shoulder a quiver full of arrows. The Onondagas lay next to the Oneidas.
It might seem, indeed, at first thought, that the founders of the confederacy had voluntarily placed themselves and their tribes in a position of almost abject subserviency to Atotarho and his followers. But they knew too well the qualities of their people to fear for them any political subjection.
Their leader, Atotarho, Grand Chief of Oka, stood erect and silent, an expression of warlike fierceness on his face. "Atotarho!" exclaimed the merchant. "It is I," the Grand Chief answered. "Where is the young man?" "Here," replied Germain, stepping forward with a sangfroid which pleased his father. He faced the powerful Indian.
The silence of Atotarho and his slender, girlish look called forth rude remarks from the boys, who did not know him, and who dared him to test his skill. The young chief came forward, and as he did so the jeers and laughter changed to cries of astonishment and fear, for at each step he grew in size until he towered above them, a giant.
Nevertheless, under the moonlight in the wilderness and with rapt faces about him, it was deeply impressive. Henry found it so. Hahiron finished his round and went back to his place by the fire. Atotarho, head chief of the Onondagas, holding in his hands beautifully beaded strings of Iroquois wampum, came forward and made a speech of condolence, to which Kathlahon responded.
Early one morning he arrived at a Canienga town, the residence of the noted chief Dekanawidah, whose name, in point of celebrity, ranks in Iroquois tradition with those of Hiawatha and Atotarho. It is probable that he was known by reputation to Hiawatha, and not unlikely that they were related. According to one account Dekanawidah was an Onondaga, adopted among the Caniengas.
Atotarho had presented to them dresses which Huron captives had made for his favorite wife. Not in many days had they laughed genuinely and with mirth; but the picture made for each other's eyes, in fringed blouse, fringed skirt, fringed pantaloons, overcame their fugitive melancholy; and from that hour they brightened perceptibly.
In this separate council the majority decided; and the leading chief then expressed in the great council the voice of his nation. Thus the veto of Atotarho ceased at once to be peculiar to him, and became a right exercised by each of the allied nations. This requirement of unanimity, embarrassing as it might seem, did not prove to be so in practice.
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