Our forefathers had a Castle on this River, as one of them walked out he saw something on the River, but was at loss to know what it was, he took it at first, for a great Fish, he ran into the Castle and gave Notice to the other Indians. Two of our forefathers went to see what it was, and foimd it a Vessel with Men in it. They immediately joined hands ^vith the People in the Vessell and became Friends. They white people told them they should not come any further up the River at tha^t time and said to them they would return back from whence they came and come again in a Years time. According to their promise they returned back in a Years time and came as far up the River as where the Old Fort stood, Our forefathers invited them a Shore and said to them, here we will give you a place, to make you a Town, it shall be from this place up to such a Stream (meaning where the Patroons Mill now Stands) and from

SIR WILLIAM JCHNSON, 599

tlie River back up to the Hill. Our Fore fathers told them the' they were now a small People they would in time Multiply and fill up the Land, they had given them. After they were a Shoar sometime, Some other Indians who had not seen them before, lokcd feircely at them and Our Forefathers observing it & seeing the white People so few in Number, lest they should be destroyed took and Sheltered them under their Arms ; but it turned out that those Indians did not desire to destroy them, but wished also to have the said White People for their Friends At this time which we have now spoken of, The white People were small, but we were very Numerous and strong.