Individuals among the natives retaliated by stealing.
When caught they were severely punished.

Notwithstanding the government prohibited the sale of muskets to the Indians, so eager were the savages to gain these weapons, so invaluable to them on their hunting-fields, that they would offer almost any price for them.

Thus the Mohawks ere long obtained "guns, powder and bullets for four hundred warriors." Kieft endeavored to tax the Indians, extorting payment in corn and furs.

This exasperated them.

Their reply, through one of their chiefs, would have done honor to any deliberative assembly.