At this time, which have the white people for their friends. we have now spoken of, the white people were small, but we

We

defended them in that were very numerous and strong. low state, but now the case is altered. You are numerous and we are few and weak therefore we expect you to act strong j

;

HUDSON RIVER INDIANS.

by us in these circumstances as we did by you in those we have view you now as a very large tree which just now related.

We

has taken deep root in the ground ; whose branches are spread stand by the body of this tree and we look very wide.

We

around to see if there be any who endeavor to hurt it, and if it should so happen that any are powerful enough to destroy it, we are ready to fall with it.

" Fathers

:

You see how early we made friendship with you.

We tied each other in a very strong chain. That chain has not yet been broken. We now clean and rub that chain to make it brighter and stronger, and we determine on our part that it shall never be broken, and we hope you will take care that neither you nor any one else shall break it. And we are greatly rejoiced that peace and friendship have so long subsisted

between us.

u Fathers

:

Don't think strange at what we are about to say.

We would say something respecting our lands. When the white people purchased from time to time of' us, they said they only wanted to purchase the low lands ; they told us the hilly land was good for nothing, and that it was full of wood and stones ; but now we see people living all about the hills and