A LONG time before the white men came, there lived a wise sachem who
was known as the Great Peacemaker. His life was full of winters and his
mind was stored with the teachings of the wisest sachems that had lived
before him. He could remember the time when all the red men dwelt in
peace, and before troubles came that drove them to wars and dissensions.
All his life was spent in going from one village to another, teaching
the doctrine of peace among his people. He told the red men how to help
each other when the bad spirits came and disturbed them. If the harvest
was poor in one village, he taught other villages that they must take
food to their brothers; if any were in want, he said that those who had
plenty must relieve them. He settled differences and difficulties by his
logic, quelled wars and disturbances by his wise counsels and eloquence,
and taught gentleness by his example. Finally, when he had reached an age
beyond that of any of the sachems who had lived before him, he called his
people together and told them that he must go away on the long journey,
but that they need not mourn for him, as he would return in a form that
would live forever.
From his grave sprang the tobacco plant, and in honor of his memory was
established the custom of smoking the pipe of peace at all peaceful
councils.
When the curling smoke ascended around the council-fires the red men saw
in its fantastic shapes the form and features of the Great Peacemaker.
They opened their ears and he told them that agreements made in his
presence were sacred, and if violated would displease the Great Spirit.
They bent their heads and the wise sachem placed his hands upon them as
a token that he would aid his children in all peaceful pursuits. His
presence was never invoked when there were discussions of wars, for
he would frown upon his children and frighten them with his terrible
countenance.
Many generations lived and died, and all respected the agreements made
in the presence of the wise sachem's spirit, for not until years after,
when the red men had been taught the meaning of a broken treaty through
experience with the whites did they ever violate a treaty that had been
ratified by "the pipe of peace."