The Council, concluded that a Captive Girl should be given to the Mohawks and about 63 guilders in Sewan in order to ascertain what they could accomplish thereby ; for it was reported at Fort Orange, as the Heer de Decker informed us, that the Esopus Indians. had said--If they could obtain payment for the land, named the Great Plot (het groote Stuck,) then they should give up all the prisoners. Now, it is impossible to determine whether this be so or not. Meanwhile, the Mohawks who were going thither were directed to inquire about it, and they promised us to bring us an answer the next day about noon. Had 3 parties out in the interim ; one to the shore to bring cattle, another for wood and a third, scouting. They returned all at the same time; experienced no difficulty. _ 17th ditto. Three parties were out in ambush, but saw _ nothing.

18th ditto. Six sloops arrived here from the Manhatans in which Juriaen Blanck brought up provisions for our troops ; had them conveyed up under a guard; a party wasalso in the field to protect those reaping the Barley and a party lay in Ambush. They returned towards evening ; saw nothing."

19t ditto. Sent out 40 Soldiers and 10 Indians scouting, they ' did not meet any one. In the evening about 7 o'clock, the three Mohawks returned from the Esopus Indians. They had brought three Indians and two Dutch women and 2 Children whom they left about two hours from Wildwyck ; said, they had been freely given, and had they not been so tired, we should have brought them with them to the fort; said the Esopus Indians had abandoned the fort, and had ratived to the Mountains where they awere mostly dispersed here & there hunting.