Laying down four belts of wampum, " these," said Aepjin, the Mahlcan u are a chief that the kalebackers desire sachem, guaranty and that we are authorized to treat in their behalf."

peace,

Stuyvesant accepted the belts, but told the chiefs that peace would be con-

THE INDIAN^TRIBEB

eluded only when the Esopus chiefs would present themselves The director was then at Fort Amsterdam for that purpose. requested to liberate the captive Indians ; but he declined, and " What are in reply to the question your intentions as regards :

"

" What have been done with the Christ answered, " ian prisoners ? Aepjin then requested that if the war was con tinued it might be confined to the Esopus country, and the director these men ?

assured him that so long as his people observed peace, the Dutch

would treat them as

friends.

The conference was concluded

by the presentation of a blanket, a piece of frieze, an axe, a knife, a pair of stockings, and two small kettles, to each of the

The next day, Stuyvesant issued chiefs, who departed content. an order banishing the Esopus prisoners to Curacoa " to be em ployed there, or at Buenaire, with the negroes in the company's service." Two or three of the prisoners only were retained at

Fort Amsterdam, to be punished " as proper."

it

should be thought

i

Meanwhile Ensign Smith pushed hostilities with

vigor.

On

the 30th of May, guided by one of his prisoners, a force under " at the second fall of Kit Davit's his command discovered, x