firm Plantation there; to which purpose they obtain’d Letters Patents in
1614. granted them by the _States_ in the _Hague_, That they might onely
Traffick to _New Netherland_; whereupon they earnestly prosecuting the
Design, sent out _Adrian Block_ and _Godyn_, who discover’d several
Coasts, Isles, Havens, and Rivers.
The Countrey, as they said, being then void, was therefore free for any
body that would take possession of it: Notwithstanding which pretence,
they were scarce warm in their Quarters, when Sir _Samuel Argal_,
Governor of _Virginia_, having first spoil’d the _French_ in _Accadie_,
as we said, disputed the Possession with these also. And although they
pleaded _Hudson_’s Right (who by Commission from King _James_, and upon
an _English_ Account, had lately discover’d those Parts) and pretended
they had not onely bought all his Cards and Maps of the Countrey, but
all his Interest and Right also, and had fully contented him for all his
Pains and Charges in the Discovery; yet the said _Hudson_ being an
_English_-man, and acting all that he did by Commission from the King of
_England_, upon Debate it was concluded, That the Land could not be
alienated after Discovery without the King of _England_’s consent,
especially it being but a part of the Province of _Virginia_, already
possess’d by the Subjects of _England_: So that they were forc’d to wave
that Title, and the _Dutch_ Governor submitted his Plantation to His
Majesty of _England_, and to the Governor of _Virginia_, for and under
him: Upon which Terms for a good while they held it. Afterwards, upon
confidence, it seems, of a new Governor sent from _Amsterdam_, they not
onely fail’d to pay the promis’d Contribution and Tribute, but fell to
fortifie themselves, and to entitle the Merchants of _Amsterdam_ to an
absolute Propriety and Dominion of the Country, independent of any
other; building Towns, as _New Amsterdam_; raising Forts, as _Orange
Fort_, near the Branch of the _Nordt River_, which they call
_Hell-Gate_. Complaint whereof being made to King _Charles_, and by his
Ambassador represented to the _States_, they disown the business, and
declare by Publick Instrument, that it was onely a private Undertaking,
_viz._ of the _West-India_ Company of _Amsterdam_. Whereupon a
Commission was granted to Sir _George Calvert_, made Lord _Baltimore_ in
_Ireland_, to Possess and Plant the Southern parts thereof, lying
towards _Virginia_, by the name of _Mary-land_; and to Sir _Edmund
Loyden_, to Plant the Northern parts towards _New England_, by the name
of _Nova Albion_: Which makes the _Dutch_ the second time seem willing
to compound; and for the Sum of two thousand and five hundred Pounds,
they offer to be gone, and leave all they had there. But taking
advantage of the troubles in _England_, which then began to appear, and
soon after follow’d, they not only go back from their first
Propositions, and make higher Demands, but also most mischievously (as
some report) furnish the Natives with Arms, and teach them the use of
them, as it may be thought, expecting to use their help upon occasion,
against the _English_.
[Illustration: NOVI BELGII]
After His Majesties Restauration, His Majesty being truly inform’d of
his just Pretences to all that Usurp’d Territory call’d _New
Netherland_, (the same having been formerly part of _New England_) and
of how great prejudice to the Act of Navigation, and how dangerous
Intruders the _Dutchmen_ are generally upon other Princes Dominions,
what mischief might ensue to all our _English_ Plantations in time of
War, if the _Dutch_ were permitted to strengthen themselves in the very
heart of His Majesties Dominions, being Masters of one of the most
commodious Ports and Rivers in _America_: His Majesty resolv’d to seize
upon the same, as his undoubted Right, and in _May 1664._ having
design’d four Commissioners to the perfecting of Affairs in _New
England_, Collonel _Richard Nichols_, Sir _Robert Carr_, _George
Cartwright_, and _Samuel Mawrick_ Esquires, with three Ships of War to
convey them to _Boston_: The matter was so order’d, that the same Ships
serv’d for the reducing of the Town and Fort of _New Amsterdam_, upon
conditions, advantageous to His Majesty, and easie to the _Dutch_.
Now begins _New Netherland_ to lose the Name, for His Majesty having
conferr’d by Patent upon his Royal Highness the Duke of _York_ and
_Albany_, all the Acquisitions made upon Foraigners, together with
_Long-Island_, the West end whereof was wholly setled and Peopled by
_Dutch-men_; his Royal Highness impower’d, by Commission as his
Deputy-Governor, Colonel _Nichols_, Groom of his Bed-chamber, to take
the Charge and Direction of Reducing and Governing all those
Territories; it was by him thought fit, to change some principal
denominations of Places, _viz._ _New Netherland_ into _York-shire_; _New
Amsterdam_ into _New York_; _Fort-Amscel_ into _Fort-James_;
_Fort-Orange_ into _Fort-Albany_; and withal, to change _Burgomasters_,
_Schepen_, and _Schout_, into Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriff, with
Justices of the Peace; so that all the Civil Policy is conformable to
the Methods and Practise of _England_, whereas _New England_ retains
only the name of _Constable_ in their whole Rolls of Civil Officers.
It is plac’d upon the neck of the Island _Manhatans_, looking towards
the Sea; encompass’d with _Hudson_’s River, which is six Miles broad;
the Town is compact and oval, with very fair Streets and several good
Houses; the rest are built much after the manner of _Holland_, to the
number of about four hundred Houses, which in those parts are held
considerable: Upon one side of the Town is _James-Fort_, capable to
lodge three hundred Souldiers and Officers; it hath four Bastions, forty
Pieces of Cannon mounted; the Walls of Stone, lin’d with a thick Rampart
of Earth; well accommodated with a Spring of fresh Water, always
furnish’d with Arms and Ammunition, against Accidents: Distant from the
Sea seven Leagues, it affords a safe Entrance, even to unskilful Pilots;
under the Town side, Ships of any Burthen may Ride secure against any
Storms, the Current of the River being broken by the interposition of a
small Island, which lies a Mile distant from the Town.
About ten Miles from _New York_ is a Place call’d _Hell-Gate_, which
being a narrow Passage, there runneth a violent Stream both upon Flood
and Ebb; and in the middle lie some Rocky Islands, which the Current
sets so violently upon, that it threatens present Shipwrack; and upon
the Flood is a large Whirlwind, which continually sends forth a hideous
roaring, enough to affright any Stranger from passing farther, and to
wait for some _Charon_ to conduct him through; yet to those that are
well acquainted, little or no danger: It is a place of great Defence
against any Enemy coming in that way, which a small Fortification would
absolutely prevent, and necessitate them to come in at the West end of
_Long-Island_ by _Sandy Hook_, where _Nutten Island_ forces them within
the Command of the Fort at _New York_, which is one of the best Pieces
of Defence in the North parts of _America_. It is built most of Brick
and Stone, and cover’d with red and black Tyle, and the Land being high,
it gives at a distance a pleasing prospect to the Spectators. The
Inhabitants consist most of _English_ and _Dutch_, and have a
considerable Trade with _Indians_ for Beaver, Otter, and
_Rackoon_-Skins, with other Furrs; as also for Bear, Deer and
_Elke_-Skins; and are supply’d with Venison and Fowl in the Winter, and
Fish in the Summer by the _Indians_, which they buy at an easie Rate;
and having the Countrey round about them, they are continually furnish’d
with all such Provisions as is needful for the Life of Man, not onely by
the _English_ and _Dutch_ within their own, but likewise by the adjacent
Colonies.
[Sidenote: _Manhattans_ River.]
The _Manhattans_, or _Great River_, being the chiefest, having with two
wide Mouths wash’d the mighty Island _Watouwaks_, falls into the Ocean.
The Southern Mouth is call’d _Port May_, or _Godyns Bay_. In the middle
thereof lies an Island call’d _The States Island_; and a little higher
the _Manhattans_, so call’d from the Natives, which on the East side of
the River dwell on the Main Continent. They are a cruel People, and
Enemies to the _Hollanders_, as also of the _Sanhikans_, which reside on
the Western Shore. Farther up are the _Makwaes_ and _Mahikans_, which
continually War one against another. In like manner all the Inhabitants
on the West side of the River _Manhattan_ are commonly at Enmity with
those that possess the Eastern Shore; who also us’d to be at variance
with the _Hollanders_, when as the other People Westward kept good
Correspondency with them.
On a small Island near the Shore of the _Makwaes_, lay formerly a Fort,
provided with two Drakes and eleven Stone Guns, yet was at last
deserted.
[Sidenote: Wholesom Waters.]
This Countrey hath many removable Water-falls, descending from steep
Rocks, large Creeks and Harbors, fresh Lakes and Rivulets, pleasant
Fountains and Springs, some of which boyl in the Winter, and are cold
and delightful to drink in Summer. The Inhabitants never receive any
damage by Deluges; neither from the Sea, because the Water rises not
above a Foot; nor by the swelling Rivers, which sometimes, for a few
days covering the Plains, at their deserting them, leave them fat and
fruitful. The Sea-Coast is Hilly, and of a sandy and clayie Soil, which
produces abundance of Herbs and Trees.
[Sidenote: Trees.]
The Oak grows there generally sixty or seventy Foot high, and for the
most part free from Knots, which makes it the better fit for Shipping.
The Nut-trees afford good Fuel, and a strange Prospect when the Wood is
set on fire, either to hunt out a Deer, or to clear the Ground fit to be
Till’d.
Some Plants brought hither, grow better than in _Holland_ it self, as
Apples, Pears, Cherries, Peaches, Apricocks, Strawberries, and the like.
[Illustration: NOVUM AMSTERODAMUM]
[Sidenote: Vines.]
Their Vines grow wild in most places, and bear abundance of blue, white,
and Muskadine Grapes: Sometime since the Inhabitants made a considerable
advantage by the Wine of them, which is not inferior to either _Rhenish_
or _French_.
[Sidenote: Water Lemmons.]
All manner of Plants known in _Europe_ grow in their Gardens: The
Water-Lemmons, no less pleasing to the Palate than healthful when grown
ripe; they are about the bigness of an indifferent Cabbage: the
_English_ press a Juice out of them, which if it did not turn sowre in a
short time, might well be compar’d with _Spanish_ Wine.
The _Calabashes_ which grow there, made hollow, serve for Water-cups.
Pumpions are also there in great abundance.
[Sidenote: Wheat.]
Their Wheat though Set six Foot deep, grows very speedily: Kidney-Beans
being planted amongst it, they will wind about the Stalks thereof.
[Sidenote: Pease.]
Gray Pease grow here so fast, that they gather them twice a year.
In one Field Physical Herbs and _Indigo_ grow wild in great abundance;
and Barley springs above a Mans heighth.
Moreover, there are divers sorts of sweet-smelling Flowers.
[Sidenote: Soyl of the Mountains.]
The Hills are most of a fat and clayie Soil, fit to make Pots,
Tobacco-pipes, or any other sort of Earthen Ware.
[Sidenote: Gold and Silver-Mines.]
In some places also is store of Mountain Crystal, and that sort of
Mineral which we call _Muscovia Glass_: Others afford Marble, Serpentine
Stone, and other sorts of hard Stone. And though the Natives did not
think it worth their while, or were not in a capacity to dig for
Minerals themselves, yet it remains without contradiction, that the
Mountains inclose both Gold and Silver.
When Captain _William Clieff_, _Anno 1645._ us’d the _Indian_
Interpreter _Agheroense_ (to decide the Differences which arose between
the _West-India Company_ and the wild People call’d _Makwaes_,) he
observ’d him to paint his Face with a yellow glittering colour, which he
judg’d to be of some rich Mineral: whereupon buying some of the said
_Agheroense_, he put it into a Crusible, and gain’d two small pieces of
Gold out of the same, valu’d at six Shillings; but keeping it private,
and purchasing a great quantity of the said Mineral from _Agheroense_
(who had show’d him the Mountain which produced the same) extracted good
store of Gold out of it; which possessing _Clieff_ with a belief of
having found out a business of great consequence, he sent _Arent Corsen_
of _New-haven_ with the fore-mention’d Mineral to _Holland_; but the
Ship being never heard of afterwards, and the Princess Pink, in which
Captain _Clieff_ was himself, with store of the new-found Mineral, being
cast away, the Business came to nothing.
[Sidenote: Paint after a strange manner.]
The Inhabitants, though divided into several Nations, yet agree in many
things, as in painting their Bodies, Shields, Clubs, and other Utensils
in their Houses. The Colours wherewith they paint themselves they press
out of Plants, or make them of certain Stones grownd into very fine
Powder. The chiefest Plant is not unlike the Myrtle, onely it hath more
Boughs, and bears red Berries; the Juice of which being dry’d in the
Sun, is afterwards preserv’d in little Bags. The Natives temper their
Colours with Water, and paint their Bodies with the same: It is as good
a Purple as can be found. They also draw Ships, Trees, and Beasts after
a very rough manner: In stead of Feathers they wear pleited Hair, which
being colour’d red, hath an excellent gloss, which never fades though it
Rain on the same.
[Sidenote: Horses.]
The Horses bred in this Countrey, being either brought thither from
_England_ or _Utrecht_, far exceed those of _English_ breed; but are
both of them subject to a strange Disease, of which many die in few
hours. The same Distemper also seizes on Cattel if they go into Forrest
Pasture: But the onely thing to cure the same, is Hay from salt Marshy
Grounds.
[Sidenote: Hogs.]
The Oaken Woods have store of Hogs, which if taken and fatned with
_Turkish_ Wheat, are most delicious Meat.
[Sidenote: Sheep.]
The Sheep, though they breed well there, yet are very scarce, because
the Planters not being able to spare Men to watch them, they are often
devour’d by Wolves.
There are also abundance of Deer, all sorts of Fowls, Turkies, Geese,
Ducks, Pigeons, and the like.
[Sidenote: Lyons.]
The Lyons, whose Skins the _Indians_ bring to Market, are taken on a
high Mountain fifteen days Journey South-West from thence.
[Sidenote: Black Bears.]
There are likewise many black Bears, fearful of humane kind, but if
Hunted, they run direct on those that pursue them: they sleep all the
Winter, lying six Weeks on one side, and six on the other, and sucking
their Feet all the time: They generally lurk among Brambles, or in the
Concavities of some hollow Mountain.
[Sidenote: Strange Beasts.]
On the Borders of _Canada_ there is seen sometimes a kind of Beast which
hath some resemblance with a Horse, having cloven Feet, shaggy Mayn, one
Horn just on their Forehead, a Tail like that of a wild Hog, black Eyes,
and a Deers Neck: it feeds in the nearest Wildernesses: the Males never
come amongst the Females except at the time when they Couple, after
which they grow so ravenous, that they not onely devour other Beasts,
but also one another.
Towards the South of _New York_ are many Buffles, Beasts which
(according to _Erasmus Stella_) are betwixt a Horse and a Stag: though
they are of a strong Constitution, yet they die of the smallest Wound,
and are subject to the Falling-sickness: they have broad branchy Horns
like a Stag, short Tail, rough Neck, Hair colour’d according to the
several Seasons of the Year, broad and long Ears, hanging Lips, little
Teeth, and Skin so thick, as not easie to be pierced: The Females differ
from the Males, for they have no Horns; both may easily be made tame:
when Hunted, they vomit out a sort of scalding Liquor on the Dogs: they
have great force in their Claws, for they can kill a Wolf with the same
at one blow: their Flesh, either fresh or salted, is a good Diet: their
Claws also cure the Falling-sickness.
[Illustration]
[Sidenote: Harts.]
But no Beasts are more plentiful here than Harts and Stags, which feed
up and down in great Herds: when they are Hunted by Wolves or Men, they
immediately take the next River, where they are caught several together,
by being cross’d in their Swimming, and affrighted by the Eccho which
comes from the Mountains, made by the Hunters hollowing on the other
Shore, which makes them fearful of Landing: whilst the Huntsmen joyning
several pieces of Wood together get upon them, and Rowing towards these
Deer, intercept them, being tir’d and out of breath.
[Sidenote: Musk-Cats.]
Moreover, this Countrey breeds many Musk Cats, especially in Marshy
Grounds. These Beasts are beautiful to the Eye, having black speckled
Skins, their Mouths, full of sharp Teeth, and their Tails being long
trail after them.
Many of the Learned maintain a Dispute concerning Civet, Whether it be
the Seed of the Civet-Cat? the Affirmative, which _Cardanus_ maintain’d,
is contradicted by _Julius Scaliger_. _Matthiolus_, an Author of no
little credit, supposes that Civet is the Sweat of the Cat, because it
is most chiefly taken when these Beasts are exceedingly vex’d and
wearied: But since the Sweat runs from all parts of the Body, which
nevertheless do not all produce Civet, it is impossible that Sweat
should be Civet. Others account Civet to be the Dung of the Cats; which
last seems to come nearest to truth: for certainly it is nothing else
but an Excrement in the fleshy parts about their Pizzle, or near the
Fundament. The Cats being in pain to be discharg’d of this Civet, free
themselves from it by rubbing a Tree; and also fawn on those which take
it from them with a Spoon.
[Sidenote: _Plin._ lib. 32. cap. 3.]
Besides all other wild Creatures, the Countrey according to _Adrian
Vander Donk_, produces yearly eighty thousand Beavers. _Pliny_ relates,
that these Beasts bite off their Pizzles and throw them to the Hunter,
which are an exceeding good Medicine to help Abortion, stop the Monethly
Flowers, Giddiness in the Head, Gout, Lameness, Belly and Tooth-ach,
Rhumes, Poyson, and the Evil. But _Pliny_ makes a great mistake herein,
for the Beavers have a small Pissel fasten’d to their Back-bone, in such
a manner, that they cannot loose them but with hazard of their lives:
They live in the Water, and on the Shore, in great companies together,
in Nests built of Wood, which deserve no small admiration, being made
after this manner: The Beavers first gather all the loose Wood, which
they find along the Banks of the Rivers, of which, if there be not
enough, they bite the Bark off from the Trees in the neighboring Woods,
then with their Tusks, of which two grow above, and two below in their
Mouths, they gnaw the main body of the Tree so long, till it drops
asunder: Their Nests very artificial, are six Stories high, cover’d on
the top with Clay to keep out Rain; in the middle is a passage which
goes to the River, into which they run so soon as they perceive a Man;
to which purpose one of them stands Sentinel, and in the Winter keeps
open the Water from freezing, by continual moving of his Tail, which is
flat without Hair, and the most delicious Meat that can be had. The
Beavers go big sixteen Weeks, and once a year bring forth four young,
which suck and cry like young Children, for the Dam of them rises on her
hinder Feet, and gives her Teats, which grow between the fore-legs to
two of her young, each of them one; the foremost legs of a Beaver
resemble those of a Dog, the hindermost those of a Goose; on each side
of the vent are two swellings within two thin Skins; out of their vent
runs generally an Oily moysture, with which they anoint all the parts of
their body which they can reach, to keep them from being wet; within
they are like a cut-up Hog; they live on the Leaves and Barks of Trees;
they love their young ones exceedingly; the long Hairs, which shining,
stick out on the back, fall off in Summer, and grow again against
Harvest; they have short Necks, strong Sinews and Legs, and move very
swiftly in the Water, and on the Land; if incompass’d by Men or Dogs,
they bite most severely; the right _Castoreum_, so highly esteem’d by
Physicians, is a long _Vesica_, not unlike a Pear, within the body of
the female Beaver, the _Indians_ mince the Cods of the Male Beavers
amongst their Tobacco, because they produce no _Castoreum_.
[Sidenote: Fowls in _New York_.]
This Country abounds also with Fowls; for besides Hawks, Kites, and
other Birds of Prey, there are abundance of Cranes, of several sorts,
some grey, some brown, others quite white; all of them have firm Bodies,
and Bones without Marrow, Claws of a finger long, strong and crooked
Bills, their Brains dry, their Eyes little and hollow, hard Features,
the left Foot lesser than the right, both deform’d, their Blood thick,
and the Excrements of a horrid smell; they breed most in old Woods,
whose ground is without Brambles, and also near the Water, for they feed
on Fish, and devour all sorts of Fowls, nay, snatch up Hares, Rabbets,
Tortels, and several other sorts of Animals, which they carry away with
them in the Air; nay, when hungry, they seize on one another; some of
them fly abroad for their prey about noon, others at Sun-rising; they
fall like Lightning on what e’re they pursue; they drink little, except
the Blood of those Creatures which they devour; they are very
libidinous, coupling above thirty times a day, not only with their like,
but also with the Hens of Hawks, and other Birds; they lay their biggest
Eggs in thirty days, and the lesser in twenty days; they generally bring
forth three young; those of them that cannot endure to look full against
the Sun, are thrown out of their Nests; the young ones when they begin
to be fledg’d, are by the old carry’d into the Air, and let flie, but
supported by them; their sight is wonderful quick; for though they flie
as high as ever they are able to be discern’d, yet they can see the
least Fish that is in the Water, and a Hare lying in the Bushes: their
Breath stinks horribly, wherefore their Carcases suddenly rot; though
they are libidinous, yet they live long; most of them die of hunger,
because their Bills when they grow old, grow so crooked, that they
cannot open the same, wherefore they flie up into the Air against the
Sun, and falling into the coldest Rivers, loose their Feathers and die.
[Sidenote: Pigeons.]
Besides the foremention’d Birds of prey, there are abundance of Storks,
Ravens, Crows, Owls, Swallows, Gold-finches, Ice-birds, Kites, Quails,
Pheasants, and Winter _Kings_, and which are most remarkable for their
rich Feathers, the _Spechtes_, they pick great holes in Trees, and make
a noise as if a Man were cutting down a Tree. The Pigeons flie in such
flocks, that the _Indians_ remove with them to the place where they make
their Nests, where the young ones being taken by hundreds, serve them
for a Moneths Provision.
[Sidenote: Pretty Birds.]
Moreover, _New York_ breeds a strange Bird about a Thumb long, full of
glistering Feathers; it lives by sucking of Flowers like a Bee, and is
so tender, that it immediately dies if water be spirted upon it; the
Carcase being dry’d, is kept for a Rarity.
[Sidenote: Turkies.]
But this Countrey abounds chiefly in Turkies, whose plenty deserves no
less admiration than their bulk, and the delicious taste of their Flesh,
for they go feeding forty or fifty in a flock, and weigh sometime forty
or fifty pound apiece; the Natives either shoot them, or take them with
a Bait stuck on an Angle: In _March_ and Harvest the Waters swarm with
Geese, Teal, Snites, Ducks, and Pelicans, besides many strange sorts of
Fowls not known in _Europe_.
[Sidenote: Fish.]
The Rivers and Lakes produce Sturgeon, Salmon, Carps, Pearch, Barbils,
all sorts of Eels, and many other Fish which are taken near Water-falls:
The Sea affords Crabs with and without Shells, Sea-cocks, and Horses,
Cod, Whiting, Ling, Herrings, Mackrel, Flounders, Tar-buts, Tortels, and
Oysters, of which some are a Foot long, and have Pearl, but are a little
brownish.