recourse to the subterfuge that the deeds of the purchase and conveyance of the acquired lands there, were not at hand, but in the Chancery at Stockholm, where, he said, he had indeed seen them. 'Twas shortly after made manifest, that these subterfuges were destitute of truth, for said Governor then for the first time tried to buy from a certain Sachem or Indian chief, named Waspangzewan, such lands as he already occupied, and insisted were included within his limits. VVhereunto the said Indian chief not being willing, refused because, as he said, the Swedes had so long occupied the aforesaid, his lands, partly against his will and by force,

590 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. without having ever given him the least satisfaction ; as said chief had himself, in presence of divers respectable persons declared both verbally and in writing to Director Stuyvesant; to whom he then presented, and in due form conveyed for the Company, as a perpetual and hereditary possession, his lands aforesaid, with their kills and superficies, so unjustly and forcibly occupied by the Swedes, situate both on the east and west shores, and on the east shore beginning from the Naricon creek, extending in a westerly direction down the river unto iMaetsingsing, and on the west shore beginning from a certain creek called Neckatoesing, extending from the river westward unto Seltoen scene, otherwise called the Minquaas kill,

where the Swedish fort Christina stands. All which can be more fully and clearly seen in the aforesaid written declaration, and in the deed and conveyance of said lands; authentic copy whereof is annexed hereunto, N" 4 Notwithstanding all this, and for still further peace and security, the said Director Stuyvesant sent for all the other Indian chiefs yet dwelling about the aforesaid river, and who were owners of the lands situate thereabouts, and in presence of divers persons, according to their annexed written declaration No. 5, proposed to them some questions ; among the rest, he divers times distinctly and in express terms, had the question put to them, Whether they had ever sold or given any lands there to the Swedes, as these alleged?