war existed in 1656, between the Manhingans and the Mohawks, and that these experienced a severe check in 1663, in an attack upon a Manhingan fortified village, and Golden admits that the contest was not at an end until 1673. 'The trade of New ' he hindered the was which the Five war York,' says, by Nations had at that time with the River Indians j that the governor of

New York

'

and he adds

l

obtained a peace between and the Mahikanders or River Indians.' x the Five Nations It also certain that

is

not reduced

to the

those Mohikander or River Indians were

same

state

in

which the Delawares were

It is proved by the concurring accounts of the French placed. and English writers, that, subsequently to the peace of 1673, they were repeatedly, indeed uniformly, employed as auxiliaries

in the

wars of the Five Nations and the British against the

French." 2

This conclusion is not only abundantly sustained by the records referred to, but by an analysis of the testimony which The has been relied upon as indicating an opposite result. latter is confined, first, to traditionary reverses sustained by the Mahicans on Wanton island, near Katskill, and at Red Hook, in Dutchess county, the bones of the slain at the latter place

Golden''s Six Nations, chap, ii, 35?

*

Gallatin*s Indian Tribes, u, 43, 44.

THE INDIAN TRIBES

being, it is said, in monumental record when the Dutch first set tled there ; and second, to the statements by Mfcchaelius and