"captives taken in war" were diſpofed of in the uſual way. The notes which follow are mainly from the official records of the colony, and will be ſufficient to ſhow the general current of public opinion and action at that period.
In Auguſt, 1675, the Council at Plymouth ordered the ſale of a company of Indians, "being men, weomen, and children, in number one hundred and twelve," with a few exceptions. The Treaſurer made the ſale "in the countryes behalfe." Plymouth Records, v. 173.
A little later the Council made a ſimilar diſpoſition of fifty-ſeven more (Indians) who "had come in a ſubmiſſive way." Theſe were condemned to perpetual ſervitude, and the Treaſurer was ordered and appointed "to make ſale of them, to and for the uſe of the collonie, as opportunity may preſent." Ib., 174.
The accounts of the Colony of Maſſachuſetts for receipts and expenditures during "the late War," as ſtated from 25th June, 1675, to the 23d September, 1676, give among the credits the following:
| "By the following accounts received in or as ſilver, viz.: "Captives; for 188 priſoners at war ſold | |
| 397.13.00." |
Plymouth Records, x., 401.
There is a peculiar ſignificance in the phrase which occurs in the Records—"ſent away by the Treaſurer." It means ſold into ſlavery. Maſs. Records, v., 5 The ſtatiftics of the traffic carried on by the Trea-
