of population and treaty intercourse under the Dutch, they sub sequently added materially to the disintegration of the river much of that character of independent

tribes, and gave to them

cantons which has been assumed as representing their political From this disintegration the Five Nations escaped, with

status.

results to their consolidated

recognition which cannot be too

That they would have been similar sufferers

highly estimated.

had they been similarly situated, the records of the negotiations with them after the war of the revolution, are a sufficient indi Considered only as a whole and treated as a whole,

cation.

they were a power ; but treated with as independent tribes they were shorn of their strength. With them the. of the history

Mahicans and the Lenapes repeated itself with fearful emphasis.

The policy adopted by the English was liberal and reasonable, and contributed at sioners

in

1744,

the

least to the

chiefs

"We

used

the

are -united following language: with the Six Nations in one common

temporary improvement of the covenant, and this is the belt which the token of that covenant."

is

THE INDUN TRIBES

condition of the Indjans.

The frictions which had

prevailed

during the Dutch administration were very largely removed by a law declaring that "no purchase of lands from the Indians,

" esteemed a day of March, 1665," should be good title without leave first had and obtained from the governor and after leave so obtained ; " that purchasers should bring be " fore the governor " the sachem or of lands which right owner