The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...

CALLED BREEDEN RAEDY. 105
and was heard by the soldiers, 18 Dutch tigers, dragged from
under the sails in spite of the endeavors of the skipper, who
was alone against 18, cut in two and thrown overboard.
F. But what did the inhabitants say of the massacre?
B. They were not only much displeased but took notes of
all that passed from time to time, for those of the country (planters) were all ruined, and in the forts there was little provision
and little strength. This they wrote- and sent to government
relating the causes and occasions of the war, with all the circum
stances as they had occurred.
J. How did you do in the meanwhile, before an answer arrived?
B. We had but a choice of evils. The Director robbed and
murdered wherever he could, and in the manner already related
1600 savages were killed in the years 1643 and 1644; some of
them were settled among the English, at a distance of from 10
to 20 miles from us, who were most of them surprised in their
sleep, many of them never having seen a Dutchman much less
ever having done them any harm.
In April of the year 1644, seven savages were arrested at
Heemstede (where an English clergyman, Mr. Fordam, was
governor), on a charge of killing two or three pigs, though it was
afterwards discovered that some Englishmen had done it themselves. Director Kieft was informed by Mr. Fordham, that he
had just arrested seven savages, who were confined in a cellar,
but whom he had not dared to treat inhumanely, as he could
not answer for the consequences to himself, because such things
are not to be winked at there, or perhaps because the English
nation wish to cause a general dislike among the savages to our
people. Kieft immediately sent ensign Opdyk with an Englishman, John Onderhill, and 15 or 16 soldiers, who killed three of
the seven in the cellar. They then took the other four with
them in the sailing boat, two of whom were towed along by a
string round their necks till they were drowned, while the two
unfortunate survivors were detained as prisoners at fort Amsterdam. When they had been kept a long time in the corps de
g arde, the director became tired of giving them food any longer,
and they were delivered to the sQldiers to do as they pleased