174 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



attended the lirst historic council with the Alohawks in 1645, ^^^^ 

 have been then 40 years old. It seems needless to take 30 years 

 from this date and make the grandsire a bo}'. 



The Algonquins and Iroquois had been at war over 50 years 

 when they began to talk of peace in 1622. June 2 two Iroquois 

 came to Three Rivers to confer about this and were well received, 

 after wdiicli they returned home with four deputies and many 

 presents. Six weeks later the deputies came back, having been 

 heartily welcomed by the Mohawks. Unfortunately a trouble- 

 some fellow, who went with them, treacherously killed an Iro- 

 quois on the way, and it was feared the war would be renewed. 

 The Iroquois were considerate, thinking it a piece of personal 

 malice, sent six more deputies and concluded peace in the spring 

 of 1624. 



Le Clercq said that early in 1622, 30 Iroquois canoes passed 

 Three Rivers and attacked the Recollect convent near Quebec, 

 but he often erred, though positive in this statement. Neither 

 Champlain nor Sagard mentions it, nor does it harmonize with 

 other events. 



Meanwhile the Dutch were busy. In the spring of 1623 a 

 " ship sailed up to the Maykans," — not to the Mohawks. The 

 distance was estimated at about 132 English miles, and the 

 colony built Fort Orange on Castle island. " Right opposite is 

 the fort of the Maykans, which they built against their enemies, 

 the Maquaees, a powerful people." These w^ere then at w^ar, and 

 in 1626 the former asked help of the Dutch, who were willing. 

 Commander Krieckebeck and six others marched with them 

 toward the Mohawk country. A league from the fort they met 

 the Mohawks, armed with bows and arrows, and were defeated, 

 the Dutch commander and three of his men being killed. The 

 Mohawks cooked and ate one and burned the rest, reserving an 

 arm and leg as trophies for those at home. Peter Barentsen, 

 their favorite trader, visited them a few days later, for they could 

 not come to the river to trade. They said '' they had never 

 injured the whites, and asked the reason wdiy the latter had med- 

 dled with them. Had it been otherwise, thev would not have 



