E. of the Island Manhatans,} 'perpetrated another murderous deed in the house of an old man? a wheelwright, with whom he was acquainted (having been in his son's service) being well received and supplied with food, pretending a desire to buy something and whilst the old man was taking from the Chest the Cloth the Indian wanted. the latter took up an ax and cut his head off, further plundering the house and ran away. This outrage obliged the Director to demand Satisfaction from. the Sachem who refused it, saying, that he was sorry that twenty Christians had not. been murdered* and_ that

1 In Westchester county--Tr. 2 Named Claes Cornelis Swits. * Note A. Capt. Patriex, letter 21, August.1641.

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JOURNAL OF NEW NETHERLAND. 9

this Indian had only avenged the death of his Uncle who had been slain over one and twenty years by the Dutch. Whereupon all the Commonalty were called together by the Director to consider this affair, who all appeared and. presently twelve men delegated from among them* answered the propositions, and resolved at once on war should the murderer be refused ; that the attack should be made on them in the harvest when they were hunting ; meanwhile an effort should be again made. by kindness to obtain justice, which was accordingly several. times sought for but in vain.

The time being come many obstacles arose and operations were postponed until the year 1642, when it was resolved to avenge the perpetrated outrage. Thereupon spies looked up the Indians who lay in their Village suspecting nothing, and eighty men were detailed under the command of Ensign Hendrick Van Dyck and sent thither. The guide being come with the troops in the neighborhood of the Indian Wigwams lost his way in consequence of the darkness of the night.