saw in them nothing but impending destruction.

Nor were the general relations existing between the Indians and the Dutch more favorable. Two soldiers, who had de serted from Fort Orange, were murdered by the Mahicam, and some of the Rarltans had destroyed a family of four persons, at Mespath kil, in order to obtain possession of a small roll of wampum which, in an unguarded moment, had been exhibited to them, and excited their The Mohawks, suffering cupidity.

under the blows of the French, had complaint against the Dutch, and sent a delegation to Fort Orange, where, on the sixth of September, 1659, the second official conference was held with The Mohawk speaker charged that the Dutch called them. his people brothers,

and asserted that they were bound to them

by a chain, but that this continued only so long as they had beavers, after which they were no longer thought of. They had favors to ask, however, and were not disposed to quarrel.

THE INDIAN TRIBES

They were engaged in war with the French, and, finding them selves crippled by the liquor which the Dutch sold to their war riors, asked

that the sale be

stopped, the liquor kegs plugged

up 'find the dealers punished. The gunsmiths refused to repair their arms when they had no wampum this was not generous, The nor was it generous to deny to them powder and lead. ;

French treated

their Indians more liberally,

and their example

principal request, however, was for thirty men with horses, to cut and draw timber for the forts