Vries, who became answerable for their safe return, the chiefs visited the fort with him, and there repeated their offer.

Kieft refused to accept the wampum, and demanded the mur The chiefs could not comply ; the murderer had sought

derer.

refuge among the Tankitekes, and besides he was the son of a chief and could not be surrendered. They then renewed their expiatory offer, but it was again refused, and they returned to their homes hopeless of effecting reconciliation.

These collisions and causes of grievance culminated in the winter of 1643, when Director Kieft threw off all disguise and disgraced even savage modes of warfare by a blackening hypo crisy and a massacre more terrible than any of which their

In February of that year a party of eighty shoulder," made a descent

annals bear record.

" each with a musket on his

Mahicans, on some of the old Manhattan

chieftaincies,

for the purpose of

which had been withheld. 1 Surprised, and from unable wholly inferiority in arms to cope with their adver

collecting tribute

the assailed Indians fled to Fort Amsterdam for protec tion, leaving seventeen of their number dead and a considerable saries,

portion of their their

enemies.

women and children prisoners in the hands of The Dutch kindly cared for the fugitives and

supported them for fourteen days ; but, again alarmed for their safety, they scattered themselves among the Hackinsacks and

Tappans, while others fled to Vriesendael to beg assistance and De Vries promised to do all in his power for them,