Deganawida planted the Tree of Peace, but he placed an eagle at its top to symbolize the militant vigilance necessary to maintain independence. Despite the fact that Deganawida had preached peace, external relations between the Iroquois and their neighbours frequently involved violent confrontation. Ball-headed war clubs such as this did deadly work in close combat. See also Canada's Visual History, volume 44, slide 1, for a view of an early engraving of a fully garbed Iroquois warrior, holding, among other things, a highly decorated, ball-headed club.
Courtesy: Canadian Museum of Civilization, National Museums of Canada (S75-388)
