under the Dutch. 41 
tations. This breach between the Candians and the Dutch was 
followed by a long course of hostilities, during which much blood 
was shed, and no lasting advantage gained by either party. The 
Dutch, however, were the greatest losers by the contest; for 
though they frequently routed the natives, over-ran their coun- 
try, and destroyed their villages ; yet the hardships which they 
encountered in forcing their way through a country covered 
with wood, and every where full of defiles, destroyed so many 
of their troops, that all their successes were too dearly purchas- 
ed ; and in the end, they were always obliged to abandon their 
conquests with great loss. The incursions of the natives, on the 
other hand, into their cultivated possessions on the coasts, al- 
though momentary, and in general easily repulsed, frequently 
destroyed the labour of years. These considerations induced 
several of the Dutch governors to attempt the restoration of 
tranquillity, rather by conciliating the natives, than by ineffec- 
tual struggles with them. For this purpose they sent ambas- 
sadors to them, with a variety of rich presents, and with instruc- 
tions to gratify the Candian King by all those attentions and to- 
kens of respect which has so great an effect on uncivilized minds. 
Their letters to him w'ere wrapped up in silks embroidered 
with gold and silver, and their ambassador carried them all 
the way on his head, the highest token of respect known in 
that country. In these letters, the King was dignified with all. 
those high-sounding titles which are usually conferred upon an 
eastern monarch ; while the Dutch subscribed themselves his 
humble and loyal subjects, repeating their former assurances 
that their only motive for building fortresses was the security 
of his Majesty’s dominions. These conciliatory measures never 
failed to have considerable effect ; but few of the Dutch go- 
G 
