[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1872)] Two soldiers, who had de serted from Fort Orange, were murdered by the Mahicam, and some of the Rarltans had destroyed a family of four persons, at Mespath kil, in order to obtain possession of a small roll of wampum which, in an unguarded moment, had been exhibited to them, and excited their cupidity. The Mohawks, suffering under the blows of the French, had complaint against the Dutch, and sent a delegation to Fort Orange, where, on the sixth of September, 1659, the second official conference was held with them. The Mohawk speaker charged that the Dutch called his people brothers, and asserted that they were bound to them by a chain, but that this continued only so long as they had beavers, after which they were no longer thought of. They had favors to ask, however, and were not disposed to quarrel. 17 132 THE INDIAN TRIBES They were engaged in war with the French, and, finding them selves crippled by the liquor which the Dutch sold to their war riors, asked that the sale be stopped, the liquor kegs plugged up 'find the dealers punished. The gunsmiths refused to repair their arms when they had no wampum; this was not generous, nor was it generous to deny to them powder and lead. The French treated their Indians more liberally, and their example should be considered. Their principal request, however, was for thirty men with horses, to cut and draw timber for the forts which they were building.