Document: Proclamation|Director General and Council against sale of liquor to Native Americans

Notwithstanding we have in previous orders forbidden, to tap for, give to, mix for or sell to Indians or natives of this country, directly or indirectly, any strong drinks, we see and observe daily drunken Indians run along the Manhatans and the people, living outside in the country have great troubles with drunken savages, which causes us to fear renewed difficulties and wars. Therefore the Honble Director General and Council deem it necessary, to renew the former orders and hereby strictly to forbid, as we hereby do, the sale, barter or gift of strong drinks under whatever name to Indians and if anybody is hereafter found to do it, even on the testimony of an Indian, who for pregnant reasons shall be believed in such cases, he shall receive arbitrary corporal punishment besides paying the fine, imposed in former ordinances, for it is better, that such evildoer be punished, than that a whole country and community suffer through him.
Done at the meeting in Fort Amsterdam in N.N., May 13, 1648.