discovery of New

River Manhattans.

NEW NETHERLAND.

NEW NETHERLAND bounded on the south west by Virginia, stretches on the north east to New Description and England, on the north it is washed by the river Canada, and on the coast by the Ocean : Netherland. north westerly, inland, it remains wholly unknown. The first who discovered this country was Henry Hudson. Engaged by the East India Company to find out a passage to China north of America, he set sail with the Yacht Half Moon, in the year sixteen hundred and nine. In front of Newfoundland he took a course directly southwest; entered a large river; there [met] two men clothed in Elk skins, and subsequently arrived safe at Amsterdam. New Netherland being thus discovered, divers traders set about establishing a stable trade here. Wherefore they sought for and obtained a charter in the year sixteen hundred and fourteen, from the States General at the Hague, to trade to New Netherland to the exclusion of all others. Earnestly, now, was the trade prosecuted. Adriaen Blok and Godyn soon discovered here divers coasts, islands, harbours and rivers. Among the rivers is the Manhattans or Great river, by far the most important, which disembogues into the Ocean by two wide mouths, washing the mighty island Matouwacs. The south entrance was called Port May or Godyn's Bay: Midway lies Staten Island, and a little further up, the Manhattans, so called from the people which inhabit the mainland on the east side of the river. These are cruel and wicked men, enemies of the Dutch, as well as of the Sanhikans who dwell on the west side. Higher up lie the Makwaes and Mahikans, who are constantly at war with each other: in like manner all the inhabitants on the west bank of the Manhattan river frequently make war on those residing on the east side. And the latter in like manner entertain constant animosity against the Dutch, with whom the other nations to the west maintain good friendship. On a little island adjoining the Makwaes shore, formerly stood a fort furnished with two guns and eleven stone pieces, but it was finally abandoned. On the Manhattans island stands New Amsterdam, five miles from the Ocean: Ships run up to the harbour there from the sea with one tide. The city hath an earthen fort. Within the fort, and on the outermost bastion towards the river, stand a wind mill, and a very high staff, on which a flag is hoisted whenever any vessels are seen in Godyn's bay. The church rises with a double roof between which a square tower looms aloft. On one side is the prison, on the other side of the church the governor's house. Without the walls are the houses mostly built by Amsterdamers. On the river side stand the gallows and whipping post. A handsome public tavern adorns the farthest point. Between the fort and this tavern is a row of suitable dwelling houses: among which stand out the ware houses of the West India Company. New Netherland hath, moreover, divers remarkable water falls tumbling down from lofty rocks, broad creeks and kills, fresh lakes and rivulets and pleasant springs and fountains, which smoke in winter, are right cold in summer, and, nevertheless, are much drank. Meanwhile the inhabitants are at no time much incommoded by floods, nor by the sea, inasmuch as at spring tide the water scarcely ever rises a foot higher; nor by freshets (op water) which cover only some low lands for a short while and enrich them by their alluvium. The sea coast rises hilly out of sand and clay, wherefore it produces abundantly all sorts of herbs and trees.

Wholesome waters.

Trees; what sort.

Vines.

Water melons.

Corn.

Peas.

Nature of the hills.

The oak usually grows sixty to seventy feet high, for the most part free of knots, for which reason it is well adapted to ship building. The Hickory trees furnish a hot and lasting fire, and a curious appearance whenever the bush is cut away either for the purpose of more open hunting or for clearing the ground for a bouwery. Some plants sent hither from Holland thrive better than even in Holland; namely, the apple, pear, quince, cherry, plum, currant, apricot, buckthorn, medlar, peach and onion. Vines grow wild everywhere and bear in abundance blue and white muscatels and pork grapes (spek-druiven). Some time since, the wine press was successfully introduced. The wine was equal to any Rhenish or French Wine. Every vegetable known to the Dutch is cultivated in the gardens. Water melons as savory as they are wholesome, are, when ripe, as large as a cabbage. The English extract a liquor from them which would be no wise inferior to Spanish wine did it not turn sour too soon. Gourds when cleaned out serve as water vessels. Tobacco produces leaves five quarters long. Pump kins grow luxuriant and agreeable. Corn sowed in hills six feet apart, sprouts up readily and prosperously if properly weeded. Turkish beans, planted beside the corn, wind themselves around the stalk. Grey peas prosper here so well that two crops are gathered in the year from one field. Medicinal plants and indigo grow wild in abundance. The barley can be tied above the head. Furthermore, all sorts of flowers have a pleasant odor and appearance. The hills consist of fullers earth, or clay, fit for making dishes, pots and tobacco pipes. There is, besdes, abundance of rock crystal and Muscovy glass. Other hills furnish marble, serpentine, blue and hearth stone. And although the Dutch have not taken much trouble to dig for minerals, either on account of not being numerous enough, or in order not to make other folks' mouths water, it is nevertheless incontrovertible that the subterranean cavities in the hills conceal gold and silver. When Wilhem Kieft, the governor, employed, in the year sixteen hundred and forty five, the Kieft's experiment Indian interpreter Agheroense, with a view, through him to terminate the difficulties which had arisen between the West India Company and the cruel tribe, the Makwaes, he observed that the said interpreter streaked his face with a glittering yellow paint. Kieft suspected some valuable mineral to be concealed in this operation, proposed to satisfy Agheroense; subjected it to the crucible; obtained two pieces of gold worth three guilders. He kept the matter secret ; obtained fortunately from the mountain pointed out by Agheroense, a bucket full of the material, for it furnished gold. Kieft now imagined he had made a great discovery & despatched Arend Corsen from New Haven to Holland with the stuff. But as the ship never made its appearance which was also the fate subsequently of the fly boat, the Princess, in which the governor was a passenger, who had a supply of the abovementioned mineral, all further exploration ceased. The natives divided into various tribes mutually agree in respect to painting their bodies, shields, war clubs and the lath work within their huts. For this they use colours extracted either from plants or from finely crushed stones. The principal plant is not unlike the Orach or Golden herb, except that the stalk has many shoots and red-brown berries; the juice of which collected in the inner bark of trees, is laid in the sun to dry, and when dried is preserved in little pouches. The inhabitants temper the paint with water, and then streak the body; it produces the most beautiful purple that can any where be found. Their pictures represent canoes, trees and animals, but very indifferently executed. Instead of plumes they bedeck themselves with hair tied with small bands. The hair is of a scarlet colour and surprizing brilliancy which is permanent and ineffaceable by rain. The horses in New Netherland are brought from England or from the diocese of

Gold and Silver mines.

about gold.

Why it failed.

Very curious paintings.

Their ornaments.

Horses.