The prowess of the Iroquois is affirmed in that they once placed Quebec in siege,

yet

Fort

Amsterdam,

more formidable

than Quebec, was twice laid waste by the Indians in its vicinity. *

Documentary History, iv, 14. Colonial History, i, 182.

"

They

rove

in

parties

continually

around day and night on the island of Manhattans, slaying our folks not a thousand paces from the fort, and 'tis now arrived at such a pass, that no one dare move a foot to fetch a stick of fire wood

without a strong escort.

Col.

Two Hist.,i,

206, 211. This Underhill wa$ a terrible scourge to the Indians. Engaged in New England wars, he spared neither the aged nor " the young. He could justify putting the weak and defenceless to death, for ' the Scripture declareth women says he, and children must perish with their pa' rents we had sufficient light from the word of God for our proceedings.'" Trumbull. '

THE INDIAN TRIBES

companies were soon organized, one of sixty-five and one of seventy-five men, and the work of retaliation commenced.

The second company was composed of forty burghers under Captain Pietersen, and thirty-five Englishmen under Lieutenant This Baxter j Councillor La Montagne acting as general.

company passed over to Staten island

who had

fallen

previously,

;

but found that the Indians,

vicinity of the fort some abandoned their houses. Five or

back from the

had also

time six

hundred skepels of corn rewarded the invaders, but nothing was accomplished beyond