Document: Proposals of the Mohawks protesting against the employment of Dutch brokers in the woods

Proposal Made by the Maquas in Fort Orangethe 26th of June, 1660

Present:

La MontagneRutger JacobsenJan VerbeeckSander LeendersenEvert WendelFrans BaeientsenAnderies Herpertsen

They say, first, that when the Dutch are in the woods to fetch Indians, they beat them severely with fists and drive them out of the woods; and for this reason they ask who of the three nations are to be the masters, the Maquas, the Sinnekus, or the Dutch? They say that it might develop into the same trouble as between the Dutch and the Indians in the Esopus.

They request that no Dutchmen with horses or otherwise may be allowed to roam in the woods to fetch Indians with beavers, because they maltreat them greatly, and at once ten or twelve of them surround an Indian and drag him along, saying, “Come with me, so and so has no goods,” thus impeding one another, which they fear will end badly.

They tell us to forbid the Dutch to molest the Indians as heretofore by kicking, beating, and assaulting them, in order that we may not break the old friendship, which we have enjoyed for more than thirty years, and if it is not prevented, they will go away and not be seen by us anymore.

Whereupon they offered 7½ fathoms of sewant.