the

same time, in

THE INDUN TRIBES

the frontiers of the Jerseys, a house was beset by a party of In

where were seventeen persons, who were killed, as I A man and a boy traveling on the road with their muskets were fired on by some Indians in ambush. The man was killed ; but the boy escaped, having first killed one of the Indians. Not far from this time whether before or dians,

remember the account.

after I

am not certain

soldiers. falls, in

the

Indians killed seven

New York

This slaughter was committed at a place called Westthe frontiers of

New Jersey."

Such is the imperfect record of these hostilities.

That they

were not more numerous is due to the erection, by Governor Hardy, in the summer of 1757, of a number of blockhouses along the frontiers of Orange and Ulster county, covering a distance of thirty miles. 2 and affording a refuge to the

At these blockhouses garrisons of regular troops or militia were constantly stationed, and moved to the defense of more exposed situations. They were far from being a per settlers.

fect protection, however, and, as already shown, were themselves the object of hostile attack.

There was some excuse on the part of the Indians for the

The proprietaries of Pennsylvania had manifested no willingness to relinquish their claim to the lands which they had so fraudulently acquired, nor had New continuance of hostilities.

To Johnson's letter to Jersey made overtures of restitution. the lords of trade, the proprietaries had entered a remonstrance, denying that any cause of complaint existed in reference to the home were unsparing in their