But to aid so steep their horses could not draw the timber. them in their work they gave them fifteen new axes and to assist them in their wars, seventy pounds of powder and a hun ;

dred weight of lead were added to their stores.

It

was

at

this

conference

that the

Dutch speaker asserted that it was " now sixteen years" since an alliance had been formed with the Mohawks. Reference

has already been made to this treaty. It will also be observed that the Minsis were not subjugated at that time but were in con dition to ask the alliance of the Mohawks.

OF HUDSON'S RWER.

The ambassadors made no efforts to control the Mohawks in nor cared with whom they fought so long as the Dutch escaped ; while the Mohawks cared as little for their

their wars,

white neighbors, their sole object being to obtain the munitions

of war to continue their conflict with the French and their

The request of the embassadors for the release of the

Indians.

French prisoners, the Mohawks would not grant

They had

refer the matter to their castles.

;

but they would

little

faith in the

French, however, for they made treaties and did not observe them ; and when hunting parties of the Mohawks were abroad, they were attacked by the French Indians, among whom a number of Frenchmen were always skulking to knock them on

In their request that the Mohawks would not aid the Esopus clans in an attack upon the Dutch, the embassadors