Kieft followed with a proclamation announcing the policy of exter mination, and offering a bounty of ten fathoms of wampum for planters and

the head of every Raritan

which should be brought to him.

Holding their own grievances in abeyance,

some of the Long

Island warriors took up the hatchet against the Raritans, and brought in at least one head for the director's gratification, but the great body of the Indians refused the tempting offer.

Meanwhile the Weckquaesgeek boy had grown to manhood, and determined to exact

long meditated atonement for

his

Taking with him some beaver skins to " a harm barter, he stopped at the house of one Claes Smit, less Dutchman," and while he was stooping over a chest in which he kept his goods, the savage seized an axe and killed him by a blow on the neck then quickly plundering his the death of his uncle.

;

Kieft demanded satisfaction, but abode, escaped to the woods. the Weckquaesgeeks refused to deliver up the murderer. He

then

summoned all the heads of families of Manhattan to a

meeting and. laid the matter before them, especially -asking if it

was not just that the murder should be avenged, and if in case the Weckquaesgeeks would not surrender the murderer, it would not be "just to destroy the whole village" to which he belonged and if so, in what manner, when, and by whom such chastise The meeting referred the pro ment should be inflicted. " twelve select to men," who, with greater discernment position ;