Iam told for a fact that a certain skipper Isaac Abrahamsen, having saved a young boy, and hidden him under the sails in order to give him to one Cornelius Melyn, towards morning the poor child, overcome with cold and hunger, made some noise

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CALLED BREEDEN RAEDT. 105

and was heard by the soldiers, 18 Dutch tigers, draggea from under the sails in spite of the endeavors of the skipper, who " was alone against 18, cut in two and thrown overboard.

F. But what did the inhabitants say of the massacre ?

B. They were not only much displeased but took notes of all that passed from time to time, for those of the country (planters) were all ruined, and in the forts there was little provision and little strength. This they wrote and sent to government relating the causes and occasions of the war, with all the circumstances as they had occurred.

J. How did you do in the meanwhile, before an answer arrived ?

B. We had but a choice of evils. The Director robbed and murdered wherever he could, and in the manner already related 1600 savages were killed in the years 1643 and 1644; some of them were settled among the English, at a distance of from 10 to 20 miles from us, who were most of them surprised in theix sleep, many of them never having seen a Dutchman much less ever having done them any harm.