island were being ravaged, and another general Indian war was Considerable time was lost in enlisting a company to feared.

proceed to the assistance of the Esopus settlers, and it was not until the loth of October, that Stuyvesant set sail. He arrived

Esopus on the nth, with a force of nearly two hundred men.

at

Indian runners had preceded him and apprised their friends of his approach, and, a few hours previous to his arrival, the siege

was raised and the beleaguering forces melted

into the forests.

Thither they could not be pursued, heavy rains having swollen the streams and made the trails impassible, and, having no em ployment for his force, Stuyvesant directed their return to Fort

Amsterdam.

The authorities at Fort Orange now interested themselves the cooperation of some Mohawk and Mahlcan chiefs, who visited the settlement, and succeeded in the matter, and obtained

in securing an armistice and the surrender of

by the Indians.

two prisoners held

On the 28th of November, Stuyvesant came

up, with the hope of making a permanent treaty, but the sa chems refused to meet him. conference was finally held on

of December, and the Indians persuaded to bring in some supplies in exchange for powder ; but they refused to make

the

1 8th

peace, denounced the truce which had been

binding authority, and retained

their

made

as

without

young prisoners, having

killed all the others.

In the spring of 1660, peace having been concluded with the Wappingers, against the