Points and articles to which the High and Mighty Lords States General, or their deputies should instruct, and consequently order and command Secretary Cornelis van Tienhoven to render categorical answers. Exhibited 21 July, 1650. 1.

Can he, Cornelis van Tienhoven, understand and speak the Indian language?

2.

Was he not usually employed in Director Kieft's time, as the medium through whom comuiunicationa were made to the Indians r Vol.. I. 52

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410 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 3.

Hath he, the Secretary, not exacted tribute from the Indians?

By whose order did he do so ; by the Directors at Amsterdam, or by order of Kieft only ?

5.

Was it not done with the knowledge and approbation of the entire Council in New Netherland ? 6.

When did it occur? What debates and controversies took place on both sides between the Indians and our people; did the Indians allow or refuse such tribute, and how many tribes had notice of it?

7.

In what year was he, Tienhoven, sent down to the Raritans by Kieft ?

Did he not go thither with a party of armed soldiers and sailors, under the command of Hendrick Gerritsen, skipper of the Neptunus?

By whose order, and with what result was he there ; and was not the supercargo of the Neptunus, named Ross, killed by the Indians in that expedition ?

10.

Did not the Raritans, in the course of the following year, avenge themselves at Staten Island, by killing four tobacco planters of David Pietersen de Vries, whose house they burnt?