HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK IROQUOIS 215 



they called Wooden Leg, went to Fort Orange about this, pro- 

 cured an accommodation and ransomed some captives. They 

 were Kennebecs. 



Governor d'Avaugour had come to Canada in 1661, and in 1662 

 he said '' it was politic to exaggerate more than ever the cruelties 

 of the Iroquois, in order the better to conceal the designs .that 

 might be adopted in this country ; fearing lest English ignorance 

 and Dutch weakness might be alarmed, and have their jealousy 

 excited." 



The governor of French Acadia desired a permanent peace 

 between the Mohawks and northern Indians. The Alohawks 

 replied that they had best be left alone. The Mahicans had fled 

 from Albany and elsewhere, and left their corn lands. As the 

 Dutch did not like them to pass Fort Orange, the Mohawks now 

 went to the eastern wars by way of Cohoes as a rule, but a party 

 of Mohawks, Onondagas and Senecas passed through the Dutch 

 town in December against the eastern Indians, by whom they 

 were defeated. 



In 1663 the Algonquins killed Garistarsia and 10 of his men. 

 There was a desperate struggle between Garistarsia, or the 

 Sword, and Gahronho, a stalwart Algonquin chief. They 

 grappled, and, just as the Mohawk was about dealing a death 

 blow, a lucky chance changed the result for the Algonquin, and 

 the Mohawk was slain. 



That year there were new hostilities at Esopus, and the aid of 

 the Mohawks was sought in recovering prisoners. The Iroquois 

 sent a large force against the Minquas, which had poor success. 

 According to one account the army descended a great river and 

 thought they would find the foe an easy prey ; but the fort was 

 defended on one side by the river and on the others by strong 

 palisades, with bastions and cannon. The Iroquois then pro- 

 posed sending 25 men into the fort to treat for peace and buy 

 provisions for their return. They were admitted, seized and 

 burned alive on scaffolds in the sight of their helpless friends. 

 The Andastes told the Iroquois this was but a prelude to what 

 they would do when they invaded their country. The Iroquois 



