HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 189 



The truce was kept by the Mohawks, who hunted free*ly with 

 the Algonquins the following winter, to the astonishment of 

 many. " Those who know the antipathies of these nations and 

 their frightful inclinations for revenge, think that they see so 

 many miracles when they see a friendly feeling between an 

 Algonquin and an Iroquois." It did not affect the other four 

 nations. Two bands of Hurons fell into their hands while going 

 to trade with the French, and in 1645 they captured three other 

 fleets. Early in the spring of that year an Iroquois party 

 approached a Huron village and captured a troop of women 

 going out to their morning work. So quickly were they placed 

 in their canoes that 200 armed Hurons were unable to rescue 

 them. 



Toward the end of that summer some Huron and Iroquois 

 warriors met in the forest, the former at first having the advan- 

 tage. A parley followed, and, when the fight was resumed, the 

 Hurons were beaten. A notable incident happened at a large 

 Huron town soon after. An attack was feared and the people 

 were prepared, young men being placed in the sentry boxes on 

 the wall. They sang war songs loudly most of the night, but at 

 last fell asleep. Some Iroquois warriors had crept to the base 

 of the wall, and, when all was still, one climbed to the tower, 

 split the head of one sentinel and threw the other down, where 

 his comrades scalped him, making off so quickly that nothing- 

 could be done. Then Hurons went to the largest Seneca town, 

 pierced one of the great cabins, choosing, killing and scalping 

 each his man, and escaping from hundreds in swift pursuit. 



There were other later encounters; but the Mohawks warned 

 all that there was peace with them alone, and in presence of 

 their ambassadors several Algonquin tribes made peace with the 

 Dutch at New Amsterdam, Aug. 30, 1645. Van der Donck thus 

 mentioned their first treaty with the Dutch that year: 



In the year 1645, "^^'^ were employed with the officers and rulers 

 of the colony of Rensselaerwyck in negotiating a treaty of peace 

 with the T^Iaquas, who then were and still are the strongest and 

 fiercest Indians of the country ; whereat the Director General 

 William Kieft, on the one part, and the chiefs of the Indian 



