238 STOFFEL BRINKEEHOFF'S GREAT VICTOEY. 



" The seizure of Oyster Bay, therefore, was an outrage not merely 

 on the pockets, but the larders of the New Ainsterdamers ; the whole 

 community was aroused, and an oyster crusade was immediately set on 

 foot against the Yankees. Every stout trencherman hastened to the 

 standard ; nay, some of the most corpulent Burgomasters and Schepens 

 joined the expedition as a corps de reserve, only to be called into action 

 when the sacking commenced." 



A valiant army under Stoffel Brinkerhoff having marched to Oyster 

 Bay, routed the English there, "and would have driven the inhabitants 

 into the sea if they had not managed to escape across the sound to the 

 main-land by the Devil's Stepping-stones, which remain to this day mon- 

 uments of this great Dutch victory over the Yankees." This done — 



" Stoffel Brinkerhoff made great spoil of oysters and clams, coined and 

 uncoined, and then set out on his return to the Manhattoes. A grand 

 triumph, after the manner of the ancients, was prepared for him by Will- 

 iam the Testy. He entered New Amsterdam as a conqueror, mounted 

 on a Narraganset pacer. Five dried codfish on poles, standards taken 

 from the enemy, were borne before him, and an immense store of oys- 

 ters and clams, Weathersfield onions, and Yankee 'notions' formed the 

 spoliaqpima; while several coiners of oyster-shells were led captive to 

 grace the hero's triumph. 



" The procession was accompanied by a full band of boys and negroes, 

 performing on the popular instruments of rattle -bones and clam-shells, 

 while Antony Van Corlear sounded his trumpet from the ramparts. 



"A great banquet was served in the Stadthouse from the clams and 

 oysters taken from the enemy, while the governor sent the shells private- 

 ly to the mint, and had them coined into Indian money with which he 

 paid his troops." 



To check the evil effects of this "inflation," a law was passed at the 

 instance of Governor Kieft by the Council of the New Netherlands, on 

 April 18, 1641, which reads thus : 



" Whereas very bad Wampum is at present circulating here, and pay- 

 ment is made in nothing but rough,, unpolished stuff which is brought 

 hither from other places, where it is fifty per cent, cheaper than it is paid 

 out here, and the good, polished Wampum, commonly called Manhattan 

 Wampum, is wholly put out of sight or exported, which tends to the ex- 

 press ruin and destruction of this Country ; In order to provide in time 

 therefor, We do, therefore, for the public good, interdict and forbid all 

 persons ... to receive in payment, or to pay out, any unpolished Wampum 



