make intercession for his murderers.

"

Upon his death-bed," "

our great sachem Soquans, mission, performing desired that no revenge should be taken, saying that he forgave

said

in

this

the offenders, and prayed that they might be reprieved."

" Since

blood was shed, blood must be shed again," replied Cornbury, and on the iQth of August the principal offender was executed in atonement for the wrong which he had committed. Through all these conferences and proceedings, two princi

pal facts are conspicuous : the equality of the

Mahicans in all

treaties with the authorities, from the earliest Dutch adventurers at Fort Orange to the more powerful occupation by the English, and the duality of the organization called the Schaticooks^ in which the principals appear as Mahicans and the New England

fugitives as Pennacooks.

Had equal fullness in record been made

at earlier periods, the first point would not have so long been in

That it finally appears is due to the wisdom of Go vernor Bellomont and to the selection of Colonel Peter Schuyler

obscurity.

than whom the Mahicans had no more sincere friend tary to

as secre

the commissioners of Indian affairs, under instructions,

"

upon any message from any or all of the Five Nations of Indians, or from the nation of Schakook or river Indians," to " to keep a immediately call the commissioners together, and record of all proceedings in reference thereto."

The faithful

ness of this record preserves the truth of history, and places the