along the northern frontiers of the Iroquots, and carried terror

Onondagas* Obtaining arms and powder from the Dutch, the confederacy recovered its position, and in turn harassed the French and their Indians in wars which were into the ranks of the

yet open when the jurisdiction of the Dutch was exchanged for that 6f the English.

That the Dutch were neutrals is evident from their treaties Their first settlement was among the Mahicans at what is now Albany, and their intercourse was mainly,

with the Indians.

if not entirely, with that

nation until 1623, when it is stated, the

Mahicans, Mohawks^ Oneidas, Onondagas^ Cayugas^ and Senecas, " far off Ottawa " and made cove Indians," came " nants of friendship with them, bringing to commander Joris " of beaver and other peltry, and desired that they great presents

as well as the

might come and have constant free trade with them, which was concluded upon." 2 It is not to be presumed that the nations

named were present at one time, for they were not at peace with each other ; there is no mention made by the Dutch histo rians of any acknowledgment of subjugation by any of the tribes,

so minutely described in one of the early histories of

New York, 3

and accepted apparently without examination by subsequent The deducible fact is that none of the tribes were writers. granted special privileges, and that there was not the slightest distinction made between them in the terms of the compact.