112 having made sails of their shirts, etc., they got at last to the Mainland of England. As these persons were more concerned for their papers than for any thing else, they caused them to be dragged for, and on the third day Joachim Pietersz got a small part of them, which are in being to this day.

EXTRACTS FROM A WORK CALLED BREEDEN RAEDT.

C. How people are sometimes buffetted about the world! How will these persons ever get justice?

B. According to what they told me, when they arrived in Holland, the Dutch directors much lamented the loss of the ship and its rich cargo, and were doubly pained that while so many fine men were lost, two rebellious bandits should survive to trouble the company with their complaints.

J. Was that all the comfort they got?

B. That was not all their comfort, but some of the directors undertook to prevent them from getting a hearing from their High Mightinesses.

J. 'Twas better to send such scoundrels to the devil. Who dared to undertake that?

B. Those who had always corresponded with those wicked children of Belial, van Beeck Perquin; they got a hearing, however, and set their affair in such a light before their H. M. that it was resolved to prevent such unrighteous proceedings, dispatched letters of inhibition, ordered Stuyvesant either to appear in person or by proxy, in order to hear his sentence maintained, confirmed or annulled; or else to await it there, and to that end their H. M. supplied the complainants with all necessary orders, safeguards, acts and instruments.

VI.

DESCRIPTION

OF

NEW NETHERLAND.

1671.

Translated from De Nieuwe en Onbekende Weereld: of Beschryving van America en 't Zuidland: door ARNOLDUS MONTANUS. Amsterdam, 1671.

Description and discovery of New

NEW NETHERLAND.

NEW NETHERLAND bounded on the south west by Virginia, stretches on the north east to New England, on the Netherland. north it is washed by the river Canada, and on the coast by the Ocean: 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 Manhat tans 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

River Manhattans.

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 Wholesome waters." 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 treés.

The oak usually grows sixty to seventy feet high, for the most part free of knots, for which reason it is well adapted Trees; what sort. 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

Vines.