[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1872)] mers, and women and children who are not warriors. If this be not stopped, I shall be compelled to retaliate on old and young, on women and children. This I can now do by killing you all, taking your wives and little ones captive and destroying your maize lands; but I will not do it. I expect you will repair all damages, seize the murderer if he come among you, and do no further mischief." u The Dutch," he continued, " are now going to live together in one spot. It is desirable that you should sell us the whole of the Esopus land, as you have often proposed, and remove farther into the interior; for it is not 128 THE INDIAN TRIBES good for you to reside so near the Swannekins, whose cattle might eat your maize and thus cause fresh disturbances." The sachems promised to take the matter into consideration, and departed with their followers. While they were absent the settlers agreed that it would be for the best to adopt the counsel of the director, arid left the selection of the site of the village to him. He " accordingly chose a spot at the bend of the kill, where a water front might be had on three sides; and a part of the plain, about two hundred and ten yards in circumfer ence, was staked out." * The erection of a stockade was immediately commenced, the Dutch, in this particular, adopt ing the mode of the Indians and drawing from them lessons in defensive warfare. On the ist of June, the sachems returned and solicited peace, expressing sorrow for what had passed.