I. 1660. savages arrived, under a penalty of three hundred guilders CHAP. and suspension from trading for six months. "The sav ages were to sell their beavers wherever they pleased." Two parties now sprung up in the village-"Runners" and "Anti-Runners "-rivalling, on a small scale, in virulence and animosity, the ancient factions of "the Hooks and Cabbeljauws." Instead of having recourse to reason and demonstrating the dangers which were likely to accrue from the employment of these wood rangers, the AntiRunners dubbed their opponents "a rabble." This gave considerable offence, and caused also numberless suits at law, and an increased amount of bad feeling. A modification of the order of the 31st of May was the consequence. June 25. Savages might be employed as emissaries, but "no Dutchman." As it was useless to expect this law to be observed, unless supported by public opinion, a meeting of the commonalty was convoked with a view to obtain its concurrence. This assembly only brought out a repetition of "injuries and threats." Many of those who attended expressed their determination "to scour the woods with Dutch brokers, whether permitted or not." The magistrates, finding that the people opposed their wishes, renewed their former orders and again abolished the June 26. system altogether. The Mohawks now complained of the violence used towards them by the runners, who kicked, beat, and dragged them through and fro. If this were continued they should be compelled to break the old treaty, to leave the Dutch altogether; and "then perhaps matters might terminate as at Esopus." An order was issued to correct this evil, and the members of the June 28. court resolved" to visit the woods in these perilous times," July 14. and to fine all the Dutch runners who might be discovered violating the law. La Montagne accordingly proceeded thither, accompanied by an armed force, but to such a height had abuses gone, that he was obliged to remain out several nights. Prosecutions were instituted against those who infringed the law, and it is a remarkable and instructive fact, that several of the magistrates were among those who were fined. BOOK VI. ~ Letters having been dispatched to the Director-general advising him of these disorders, his Honor was obliged, 1660. after concluding the treaty at Esopus, to proceed to Fort July 22. Orange, where he was met by the chiefs of the powerful tribe of the Senecas, who came from the banks of the Niaugaurah to renew the treaty which already existed between them and the Dutch. The council fires were July 25. lighted on this occasion in Fort Orange, and the magistrates of the colonie and Beverwyck attended, with the principal settlers of the vicinity, to add increased solemnity to the negotiations. The proceedings were opened by a long speech from an Indian chief. 66 They had visited the Manhattans several years ago, and though they had offered their presents they received no answer; "no, not even one pipe of tobacco." They had then bound themselves to the Dutch "with a chain," which they now desired to renew, having some trifling requests to make; but they felt as if they were about "to run against a stone." They were involved in a heavy war, and could not obtain either powder or ball without beavers. “A brave warrior ought to have these for nothing." Many of their tribe proposed to visit this place ere long. They asked that they may be allowed to barter their furs according to their pleasure; that they be not locked up by the Dutch, but be permitted to trade wherever they liked, without being kicked by those who wished to have their beavers, until we know not where our eyes are." "Every one ought to trade where he pleases and where he can be best served." Such violent conduct ought to be prohibited, "so that we may smoke and suck our tobacco in peace, and ye too may smoke and consider our proposals maturely. There are so many runners we know not where to carry our furs. This ought to be corrected." 66 "You are," continued the orator, "the chiefs of the whole country. We all look up to you. We ask a piece of cloth for a beaver, and that it may be understood and henceforward a rule, that we shall receive thirty yards of black and sixty yards of white zeawan for one beaver. Ye have been sleeping hitherto. With these three beavers I. we now open your eyes. We require sixty handsful of CHAP. powder for one beaver. We have a vast deal of trouble collecting beavers through the enemy's country. We ask 1660. to be furnished with powder and ball. If our enemies conquer us, where will ye then obtain beavers ?" "Ye have included us and the Mohawks and the MoheSet now at liberty the gans in the peace of Esopus. This savages ye have taken prisoners there. We are some- A number of valuable presents accompanied this address, to which Stuyvesant thus replied : "When our brothers were for the first time at the Manhattans some two or three years ago, and entered into a close alliance, which we have always cultivated, and shall always cherish, the tobacco was forgotten. We now give you a roll to make you remember our union when you return to your own country, and to keep this as close as if it were linked together with a chain. "Brothers! we made peace with the savages of Esopus, at the solicitation of the Mohawks, the Mohegans, and other friends, so that they may use in safety the rivers and the roads. We present you, therefore, the axes which we have thrown away, but we expect that when departing ye will kill neither our horses nor our cattle. "Brothers! ye thanked us that we made peace with those of Esopus. Now we solicit, on our side, that ye, too, will make peace with the Minquaas and cultivate it, so that we, also, may use the road to them in safety, as our brothers now do on their way to us. "Brothers! ye complain that ye do not receive much powder; we now give you a whole keg full. But it ought not to be used against our brothers the Minquaas, but BOOK against those distant enemies from whom ye capture beaver. VI. 1660. "Brothers! ye complain that your beavers are taken from you when ye come to us. Three days ago we forbade our people to act thus, so that our brothers may now go whither they please. "Brothers! if any Dutchman beat you, go and complain to the sachems. If any Dutchman retain or steal your beavers, then we shall take care that your property be restored. It is good that every one go with his beaver where he chooses. No more runners shall be sent out; but every one shall be free to go with his beaver where he pleases. Listen, then, no longer to these runners, but beat them on the head until it can no longer be seen where their eyes stood. "Brothers! ye ask a certain quantity of zeawan or of cloth for a beaver. The Dutch cannot agree to that whilst the cloth is brought from so great a distance-far beyond the great lake." 1 Alb. Rec. vi., 236-238, 254, 257-261, 270-283; xxiv., 348–352. CHAPTER II. New effort to colonize Staten Island, which is again purchased from the Indians-Sale declared null in Holland-Melyn returns to Europe-Conveys all his right in the Island to the West India Company, who purchase also the claims of the heirs of Van der Capellen-A number of Palatines form a village there-New Haerlem incorporated-Bergen and New Utrecht plantedBushwick settled-Its progress and charter-Efforts to obtain a court of justice for the Esopus-Roeloff Swartwout appointed sheriff-Stuyvesant objects -Rev. Harmanus Blom ordained minister of that place-Charter of Wiltwyck -Rev. Dominie Selyns minister at Breukelen-Progress of settlements westward-Schenectady, or the great Flatt of Schonowe, purchased from the Indians-Conditions of that plantation-Impediments to its first settlementFinally surveyed. II. THE massacre of 1655 was a blow to Staten Island and CHAP. the country in its rear, from which they did not soon recover, for it scattered the settlers throughout the province. 1657. Van der Capellen was, however, determined not to abandon that rich and beautiful spot. He again sent out a number of colonists, and gave instructions that those of his people who survived the late tragedy should be again collected and encouraged to resume their old locations. To remove any dissatisfaction that might exist among the native proprietors, Van Dinclage, the Baron's agent, purchased July 10. anew the whole of the island from the Indians, for ten cargoes of shirts; thirty pairs of Ferouse stockings; ten guns; ten staves of lead; thirty pounds of powder; thirty ells of coarse red cloth; two pieces of frieze; thirty kettles; fifty axes; twenty-five chisels; a few awls and a few knives. A treaty of alliance and peace was at the same time made with the savages, and the whole act was duly witnessed "with submission to the court of justice at Hospating, near Hackingsack, on Waerkinnes Connie in New Netherland." When this transaction came to the ears of the Directors at Amsterdam, they immediately Dec. 22. 1 Alb. Rec. iv., 225; viii., 161. |