[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1872)] ing the Wappingers of the Connecticut river, under the lead of Mayane, with whom the Dutch claimed they had never had any difficulty, but who then learned " for the first time that he and his Indians had done" them " much injury."2 The position of the Dutch was perilous in the extreme. The Indians literally hung upon their necks with " fire and sword."3 Had they known their own strength, the last refuge of the colonists would have fallen before them, but judging from their own modes of warfare, they feared to attack the fort and contented themselves with sweeping off the exposed plantations and with the terror which their presence inspired.4 Director Kieft now solicited aid from New England, offering " twenty-five thousand guilders " for one hundred and fifty.men, and as a further consideration that New Netherland should be mortgaged to the English for the payment of the sum offered. Relief was also solicited from Holland; but these applications were attended with only partial success, and the Dutch were thrown on their own resources, aided by a few English volun teers under the command of Captain John Underbill.5 Two 1 The prowess of the Iroquois is affirmed without a strong escort. — Col. Hist.,i, in that they once placed Quebec in siege, 206, 211. yet Fort Amsterdam, more formidable 6 This Underhill wa$ a terrible scourge than Quebec, was twice laid waste by the to the Indians. Engaged in New Eng-Indians in its vicinity.