Ockanickon, Lenape, 1677

"The strong liquor was first sold to us by the Dutch; and they were were blind, they had no eyes, they did not see that it was for our hurt.  The next people that came among us were the Swedes, who continued the sale of those strong liquors to us.  They were also blind, they had no eyes, they did not see it to be hurtfull to us to drink it, although we know it to be hurtful to us, but if people will sell it to us, we are so in love with it that we cannot forbear it.

 When we drink it, it makes us mad, we do not know what we do, we then abuse one another, we throw each other into the fire.  Seven score of our people have been killed by reason of the drinking it, since the time it was first sold us.  Those people that sell it are blind, they have no eyes, but now there is a people come to live amongst us, that have eyes, they see it to be for our hurt, and we know it to be for our hurt.  They are willing to deny themselves the profit of it for our good.  These people have eyes; we are glad such a people are come amongst us we must put it down by mutual consent.

The cask must be sealed up.  It must be made fast, it must not leak by day nor by night, in the light nor in the dark, and we give you these four belts of wampum, which we would have you lay up sale, and keep by you, to be witnesses of this agreement that we make with you; and we would have you tell your children, that these four belts of wampum are given you to be witnesses betwixt us and you of this agreement."