Indignantly the chief exclaimed: "How can the sachem at the fort dare to exact a tax from us! He must be a very shabby fellow.

He has come to live in our land when we have not invited him; and now he attempts to deprive us of our corn for nothing.

The soldiers at fort Amsterdam are no protection to us.

Why should we be called upon to support them?
We have allowed the Dutch to live peaceably in our country, and have never demanded of them any recompense.

When they lost a ship here, and built a new one, we supplied them with food and all other necessaries.
We took care of them for two winters until their ship was finished.