They then concluded to remain there, for the Chief said, Were the Dutch to come to the Fort and we also were in it, we should be all slaughtered ; tis best for us to remain here on the opposite shore ; the Dutch would not learn much of us; States also further, that the Indian had said that 40 Manissing Indians had arrived at their fort, and that 40 more were to come on the next day; further says, that each night they conveyed the prisoners always to a particular place without the fort and remained themselves therein ; says also that they were resolved to make a stand in their fort, and that they had, moreover, in their fort 9 horses with which they draw palisades, and had sold a horse to the Mannissing Indians ; that the Indians had also three houses in which they reside, these were 4 hours farther off ; says also, that one Sachem in the fort would advise them to negotiate peace, but the other Sachems would not listen to it; says also, that the fort is defended by three rows of palisades,

SECOND ESOPUS WAR. 49

and the houses in the fort encircled by thick cleft palisades with port.holes in them, and covered with bark of trees; says that the fort is quadrangular but that the Angles are constructed between the first and second rows of, palisades and that the third row of palisades stands full eight feet off from the others towards the interior, between the two first rows of palisades and the houses, and that the fort stands on the brow of ahill and all around is table land.