making. Upon this Adair says: "In almost every Indian nation there
are several peaerithlr twrns, which are called 'old beloved, ancient, holy, or white
towns. 1 They seem to have been formerly towns of refuge, for it is not in the
memory of their oldest people that ever human blood was shed in them, although
they often force persons from thence and put them to death elsewhere." — Adair,
American Indians, 159. A closely parallel institution seems to have existed among
the Seneca. "The Seneca nation, ever the largest, and guarding the western door
of the.' long house,' which was threatened alike from the north, west, and smith,
had traditions peculiarly their own, besides those common to the other members of
the confederacy. The stronghold or fort, Gau-stra-yea, on the mountain ridge, four
miles east of Lewiston, hada peculiar character as the residence of a virgin queen
known as the 'Peacemaker. ' When the Iroquois confederacy was first formed the
prime factors were mutual protection and domestic peace, and this fort was designed
to afford comfort and relieve the distress incident to war. It was a true 'city of
refuge,' to which fugitives from battle, whatever their nationality, might flee for
safety and find generous entertainment. Curtains of deerskin separated pursuer and
pursued while they were being lodged and fed. At parting, the curtains were with-
drawn, and the hostile parties, having shared the hospitality of the queen, could
neither renew hostility or pursuit without the queen's consent. According to tra-
dition, no virgin had for many generations been counted worthy to fill the place or
possessed the genius and gifts to honor the position.