Document: Examination of a drunken Indian conveyed to the fort

The 13th of October Anno 1656, at the request of the officer of Fort Orange, the Indian named Macheck Sipoeti,[1] a Mahican, was examined by Jan Tomassen, well acquainted with the Mahican languages, in the presence of the honorable Heer J. B. Rencalaer, director of the colony of Renselaerswijck, and the right honorable Ruth Jacobsen and Anderies Herbertsen, magistrates of the court of Fort Orange and the village of Beverwijck.

He was first asked where he had been drinking, whereupon he answered, in an Indian house, situated near the Gojer’s Kill.[2]

He was then asked where the Indians had obtained the brandy, whereupon he answered, on the east side of the river, from the Dutch, who lived there.

Thirdly, he was asked the names of the Dutch who had sold or given them the brandy, to which he answered that he did not know their names.

Finally, he was asked how large the cask was, whereupon he indicated the size in such a way that one could judge that it must have been an anker.

Rutger Jacobsz
Andries Herberts
La Montagne