Amongst the Poysonous Creatures which infest _New York_, the chiefest
and most dangerous is the _Rattle-Snake_, whose description we have
already had at large in _New England_.
[Sidenote: Constitution of the Inhabitants.]
[Sidenote: Their Diet.]
The Inhabitants have their Hair black as Jet, harsh like Horse-hair;
they are broad Shoulder’d, small Wasted, brown Ey’d, their Teeth
exceeding white; with Water they chiefly quench their Thirst: Their
general Food is Flesh, Fish, and _Indian_ Wheat, which stamp’d, is
boyl’d to a Pap, by them call’d _Sappaen_: They observe no set time to
Eat, but when they have an Appetite their Meals begin. Beavers Tails are
amongst them accounted a great Dainty: When they go to Hunt, they live
several days on parch’d Corn, which they carry in little Bags ty’d about
their middle; a little of that said Corn thrown into Water swells
exceedingly.
[Sidenote: _Hudson_’s adventures remarkable.]
_Henry Hudson_ relates, That Sailing in the River _Montains_, in forty
Degrees, he saw the _Indians_ make strange Gestures in their Dancing and
Singing; he observ’d farther, that they carry’d Darts pointed with sharp
Stones, Sodder’d to the Wood; that they slept under the Sky on Mats or
Leaves; took much Tobacco, and very strong; and that though courteous
and friendly, they were very Thieves. He Sailing thirty Leagues further,
went in his Boat to an old _Indian_ Commander of forty Men and seventeen
Women, who conducted him to the Shore, where they all dwelt in one
House, artificially built of the Barks of Oak-trees; round about it lay
above three Ships load of Corn, and _Indian_ Beans to dry, besides the
Plants which grew in the Fields. No sooner had _Hudson_ enter’d the
House, but he was receiv’d on two Mats spread on the ground; and two Men
immediately were sent out to shoot Venison or Fowls; and instantly
returning, brought two Pigeons; a fat Dog, whom they nimbly flea’d with
shells, was also laid down to the fire: They also made other
Preparations for _Hudsons_ Entertainment, but not willing to venture
himself amongst them, that Night, tasted not of it, notwithstanding the
_Indians_ breaking their Darts, threw them into the fire, that thereby
they might drive away all fears and jealousies from him.
[Illustration]
[Sidenote: _New Netherlanders_ Apparel.]
The Habits of the Natives, especially of the Men, are few; the Women go
more neat than the Men; and though the Winter pinches them with
excessive cold, yet they go naked till their thirteenth year: Both Men
and Women wear a Girdle of Whale-fins and _Sea-shells_; the Men put a
piece of Cloth, half an Ell long, and three quarters broad, between
their Legs, so that a square piece hangs behind below his Back, and
another before over his Belly. The Women wear a Coat which comes half
way down their Legs, so curiously wrought with _Sea-shells_, that one
Coat sometimes costs thirty Pounds. Moreover, their Bodies are cover’d
with Deer-skins, the lappets or ends of which hang full of Points; a
large Skin button’d on the right Shoulder, and ty’d about the middle,
serves for an upper Garment, and in the Night for a Blanket: Both Men
and Women go for the most part bare-headed; the Women tie their Hair
behind in a tuft, over which they wear a square Cap wrought with
_Sea-shells_, with which they adorn their Foreheads, and also wear the
same about their Neck and Hands, and some also about their middle.
Before the _Hollanders_ were Planted here, they wore Shoes and Stockings
of _Buffelo_’s-skins; some likewise made Shoes of Wheaten-straw, but of
late they come nearer to our Fashions: The Men Paint their Faces with
several Colours; the Women only put here and there a black Spot; both of
them are very reserv’d.
[Sidenote: Their houses.]
[Sidenote: Remove.]
Their Houses are most of them built of one fashion, onely differing in
length; all of them agree in breadth of twenty Foot: They build after
this manner, they set Peel’d Boughs of Nut-Trees in the ground,
according to the bigness of the place which they intend to build, then
joyning the tops of the Boughs together, they cover the Walls and top
with the Bark of Cypress, Ashen, and Chest-nut-Trees, which are laid one
upon another, the smallest side being turn’d inwards: according to the
bigness of the Houses, several Families, to the number of fifteen dwell
together, every one having his Apartment. Their Fortifications are most
of them built on steep Hills, near Rivers; the access to them is onely
at one place, they are built after this manner: They set great Poles in
the Ground, with Oaken _Pallisadoes_ on each side, cross-ways one
amongst another; between the crosses they set other Trees, to strengthen
the Work: Within this inclos’d they generally build twenty or thirty
Houses, of which some are a hundred and eighty Foot long, and some less,
all of them full of People: In the Summer they pitch Tents along by the
River side to Fish; against Winter they remove into the Woods, to be
near their Game of Hunting, and also Fuel.
[Sidenote: Many Wives.]
[Sidenote: Marriages.]
[Sidenote: Whoring permitted.]
[Sidenote: Strange Marrying.]
[Sidenote: Child-bearing Womens strange actions.]
[Sidenote: Funerals.]
[Sidenote: Mourning over the dead remarkable.]
To take many Women is not customary here, only amongst Military
Officers, who Marry three or four Wives, which so well agree, that there
is never any difference betwixt them; those that are not of Age, never
Marry but with the consent and advice of their Parents: Widows and
unmarry’d Men follow their own opinion and choice; only they take
Cognizance of their Estates and Extraction: The Bridegroom always
presents the Bride; for the least offence, the Man after having soundly
beaten his Wife, turns her out of Doors, and Marries another, insomuch,
that some of them have every year a new Wife: On breach of Marriage, the
Children follow the Mother, from whom they account their Generation:
They account Adultery, if committed under the bare Canopy of Heaven, a
great Sin: Whoring is Licenc’d to single Women, if they receive Money
for it, and no Man scruples to Marry them; nay, those that are Marry’d,
boast how many they have enjoy’d before their Marriage: She that is
inclin’d to Marry, covers her whole body, and sets her self wrapt up in
the middle of the way, where a Batchelor passing by sees her, and makes
up the Match blindfold: When impregnated, they take great care that
their Fruit receives no hindrance nor prejudice: When the time of their
Delivery approaches, (which they know exactly) they go to a Melancholly
place in the Woods, though in the coldest Weather, where they raise up a
Hut of Mats, and bring the Child into the World without any help or
Company, wash the Child in cold Water, and wrap it up in Mats; then a
few days after going home, they bring up the Infant with great care,
none putting them out to Nurse: So long as a Woman gives suck, or is
quick with Child, she will not admit of Copulation; one who hath the
Flowers, never comes abroad: In time of sickness they faithfully assist
one another: When any die, the nearest Relations shut their Eyes; and
after having watch’d them some days, they are Interr’d after this
manner: The Corps is plac’d sitting with a Stone under its Head, near it
they set a Pot, Kettle, Dish, Spoons, Money, and Provisions to use in
the other World; then they pile Wood round about it, and cover it over
with Planks, on which throwing Earth and Stones, they set _Pallisadoes_,
and make the Grave like a House, to which they shew Veneration,
wherefore they account it a great piece of villany to deface any thing
of it: The Men make no shew of sorrow over the Dead, but the Women mourn
exceedingly, and carry themselves very strangely, beating their Breasts,
scratching their Faces, and calling night and day on the name of the
Deceas’d: The Mothers make great Lamentation at the Death of their
Children, especially Sons, for they shave off the Hair of their Heads,
which at the Funeral is burnt in the presence of all their Relations;
which is also perform’d by the Women when their Husbands die; besides,
they black all their Faces, and putting on a Hart-skin Shirt, mourn a
whole year, notwithstanding they liv’d very contentiously together.
[Sidenote: Conjurers.]
On some occasions they go a Worshipping of the Devil, to a certain place
where the Sorcerers shew strange Feats of Activity, tumbling over and
over, beating themselves, and not without great noise leaping in and
about a great Fire: at last they make a great Cry all together; upon
which (as they say) the Devil appears to them in the shape either of a
tame or wild Beast: the first signifies bad, and the other good fortune;
both inform them of future Events, though darkly; and if the business
fall out contrary, they affirm that they have not rightly understood the
Devil’s meaning. Moreover they bewitch some in such a manner, that they
foam at the Mouth, throw themselves into the Fire, and beat themselves
severely; and so soon as they whisper in the Ear of those whom they have
bewitch’d, they immediately recover their former health.
[Sidenote: Language of the _New Netherlanders_.]
The Language of this Countrey is very various, yet it is divided into
onely four principal Tongues, as the _Manhattans_, _Wappanoo_,
_Siavanoo_, and _Minqua_’s, which are very difficult for Strangers to
learn, because they are spoken without any Grounds or Rules.
[Sidenote: Money.]
Their Money is made of the innermost Shells of a certain Shell-fish,
cast up twice a year by the Sea: These Shells they grind smooth, and
make a Hole in the middle, cutting them of an exact bigness, and so put
them on Strings, which then serve in stead of Gold, Silver, and Copper
Coin.
[Sidenote: Vices and Vertues.]
[Sidenote: Strange Stoves.]
Now to say something of the Vices and Vertues of the Inhabitants. They
are in the first place very slovenly and nasty, stubborn, covetous,
revengeful, and much addicted to filching and stealing. Some appear
reserv’d, using few words, which they utter after serious consideration,
and remember a long time. Their Understandings being improv’d by the
_Hollanders_, they are quick of apprehension, to distinguish good from
bad: they will not endure any Oppression, but are very patient of Heat,
Cold, Hunger and Thirst. They have a strange way of using Stoves, which
are set in the Ground and cover’d with Earth, into which they go through
a little Door. A sick Person coming into the same, sets himself down,
and places hot Stones round about him; which done, and having sweat a
considerable time, he leaps into cold Water, by which he finds ease of
all his Distempers.
[Sidenote: Arms.]
[Sidenote: Remarkable actions of some Prisoners.]
[Sidenote: Laws.]
[Sidenote: Council-Assembly.]
Though these People know no great distinction between Man and Man, as
other Nations, yet they have noble and ignoble Families amongst them;
superior and inferior Offices, which they enjoy by Inheritance; but
sometimes the Martial Offices are bestowed according to the Valour of
the Persons: Their Generals seldom give their Enemies a Field-Battel, by
drawing or dividing their Men into Regiments or Companies, but make it
their whole Design to defeat their Enemies by sudden Sallies from
Ambuscado’s; for they never stand out a close Fight, unless compell’d to
it, but if encompass’d round, they fight to the last Man. When any
danger threatens, the Women and Children are convey’d to a secure place.
Their Arms formerly were Bowes and Arrows, and Battel-axes, but now they
use Musquets, which they have learn’d to handle with great dexterity.
Their square Shields cover all their Bodies and Shoulders. About their
Heads they tie a Snakes Skin, in the middle of which sticks either a
Fox’s or Bear’s Tail. They cannot be known by their Faces, they are all
over so besmear’d with Paint of divers colours. They seldom give Quarter
to their Enemies, except Women and Children, which the Conquerors use as
their own, that by that means they may increase and strengthen
themselves: and if any Prisoner is not kill’d presently after the
Battel, but falls into the Hands of one whose Relations have formerly
been slain by his Party, he is Roasted three days by degrees before he
gives up the Ghost. It deserves no small admiration, that the Sufferer
during the whole time of his Torture, Sings till he breathes his last.
They have few or no Punishments for any Offence, committing few Crimes
which are by them accounted Capital. If any one steal, and the Goods be
found in his custody, the Governor of the place where he resides
commands him onely to restore the same to the Owner. If any one murther
or kill the other, the Relations of the slain, if they can take the
Malefactor in twenty four hours, may without Examination or delay put
him to death also; but that time being once expir’d, the Revenger is
liable to be kill’d in the same time by his Relations whom he slew. All
Obligations have their power and vertue from certain Presents deliver’d
upon the making of a Contract, which is done thus: They dry as many
Sticks as they have Articles, which if they agree upon, every Man on the
concluding of the Discourse lays a Present before the others Feet.
Sometimes they hang up the Presents, because they are often three days
in Consultation before they resolve; after which if the Presents be
taken down, it is a certain sign of their Agreement; but if not, they
proceed no farther, unless the Articles and Presents are alter’d. On
Businesses of consequence the Commonalty repair to their Governor’s
House, there to hear and enquire what the Nobility there assembled have
concluded or resolv’d on; at which the best Orator standing up, tells
them their Intentions. It happens sometimes that a turbulent Person
making a Mutiny, and refusing to hearken to reason, is immediately
beheaded by one of the Nobility; in contradiction of which none dare
presume to speak the least word.
[Sidenote: Religion.]
[Sidenote: Diabolical Worship.]
[Sidenote: Their ridiculous Opinion of God.]
[Sidenote: As also of the Creation.]
There are scarce any steps of Religion found amongst these People, onely
they suppose the Moon to have great influence on Plants. The Sun, which
over-looks all things, is call’d to witness whene’re they Swear. They
bear great respect, and stand much in fear of _Satan_, because they are
often plagued by him when they go a Hunting or Fishing: wherefore the
first of what they take is burnt in honor of him, that he to whom they
ascribe all wickedness might not hurt them. When they feel pain in any
part of their Body, they say that the Devil sits in the same. They
acknowledge that there resides a God above the Stars, but troubles not
himself with what the Devil doth on Earth, because he continually
recreates himself with a most beautiful Goddess, whose original is
unknown: She on a certain time (say they) descended from Heaven into the
Water, (for before the Creation all things were Water) into which she
had instantly sunk, had not the Earth arose under her Feet, which grew
immediately to such a bigness, that there appear’d a World of Earth,
which produc’d all sorts of Herbs and Trees; whilst the Goddess taking
to her self a Hart, Bear, and Wolf, and Conceiving by them, she was not
long after deliver’d of several Beasts at one time: and from thence
proceeded not onely the diversity of Beasts, but also Men, of which some
are black, white, or sallow; in nature fearful like a Hart, or cruel and
valiant like a Bear, or deceitful like Wolves: after this the Mother of
all things ascended up to Heaven again, and sported there with the
Supream Lord, whom they say they know not, because they never saw him:
wherefore they shall have less to answer for than _Christians_, which
pretend to know him to be the Punisher of things both good and bad,
which are daily committed by them: and for this ridiculous Opinion they
can hardly be brought to embrace the _Christian_ Faith.
[Sidenote: Of the Immortality of the Soul.]
Concerning the Souls of the Deceased, they believe, that those which
have been good in their life-time, live Southward in a temperate
Countrey, where they enjoy all manner of pleasure and delight; when as
the Wicked wander up and down in a miserable Condition. The Eccho which
resounds from the Cries of wild Beasts in the Night, they suppose to be
the Spirits of Souls transmigrated into wicked Bodies.
[Sidenote: Their _Canticas_, or Dancing.]
At their _Canticas_, or Dancing-Matches, where all Persons that come are
freely Entertain’d, it being a Festival time. Their Custom is when they
Dance, for the Spectators to have short Sticks in their Hands, and to
knock the Ground and Sing altogether, whilst they that Dance sometimes
act Warlike postures, and then they come in painted for War with their
Faces black and red, or some all black, some all red, with some streaks
of white under their Eyes, and so jump and leap up and down without any
order, uttering many Expressions of their intended Valour. For other
Dances they onely shew what antick Tricks their ignorance will lead them
to, wringing of their Bodies and Faces after a strange manner, sometimes
jumping into the Fire, sometimes catching up a Firebrand, and biting off
a live Coal, with many such tricks, that will affright rather than
please an _English_-man to look upon them, resembling rather a company
of infernal Furies than Men.
[Sidenote: Their sitting in Council.]
When their King or _Sachem_ sits in Council, he hath a Company of Arm’d
Men to guard his Person, great respect being shewn him by the People,
which is principally manifested by their silence. After he hath declared
the cause of their Convention, he demands their Opinion, ordering who
shall begin: The Person order’d to speak, after he hath declar’d his
mind, tells them he hath done: no Man ever interrupting any Person in
his Speech, nor offering to speak, though he make never so many long
stops, till he says he hath no more to say. The Council having all
declar’d their Opinions, the King after some pause gives the definitive
Sentence, which is commonly seconded with a shout from the People, every
one seeming to applaud and manifest their Assent to what is determin’d.
If any Person be condemn’d to die, which is seldom, unless for Murther
or Incest, the King himself goes out in Person (for you must understand
they have no Prisons, and the guilty Person flies into the Woods) where
they go in quest of him, and having found him, the King shoots first,
though at never such a distance, and then happy is the Man that can
shoot him down; for he that hath the fortune to be Executioner, is for
his pains made some Captain, or other Military Officer.
They grease their Bodies and Hair very often, and paint their Faces with
several Colours, as black, white, red, yellow, blue, _&c._ which they
take great pride in, every one being painted in a several manner.
Within two Leagues of _New York_ lieth _Staten-Island_, it bears from
_New York_ West something Southerly: It is about twenty Miles long, and
four or five broad, most of it very good Land, full of Timber, and
producing all such Commodities as _Long-Island_ doth, besides Tin and
store of Iron Oar; and the _Calamine_ Stone is said likewise to be found
there: There is but one Town upon it, consisting of _English_ and
_French_, but it is capable of entertaining more Inhabitants.
Betwixt this and _Long-Island_ is a large Bay, which is the coming in
for all Ships and Vessels out of the Sea.
On the North-side of this Island _After-skull_ River puts into the Main
Land, on the West-side whereof there are two or three Towns, but on the
East-side but one. There are very great Marshes or Meadows on both sides
of it, excellent good Land, and good convenience for the setling of
several Towns. There grows black Walnut and Locust, as there doth in
_Virginia_, with mighty, tall, streight Timber, as good as any in the
North of _America_: It produceth any Commodity which _Long-Island_ doth.
_Hudson_’s River runs by _New York_ Northward into the Countrey, towards
the Head of which is seated _New Albany_, a Place of great Trade with
the _Indians_, betwixt which and _New York_, being above a hundred
Miles, is as good Corn-Land as the World affords, enough to entertain
hundreds of Families, which in the time of the _Dutch_ Government of
these Parts could not be setled by reason of the _Indians_, excepting
one Place, call’d _The Sopers_, which was kept by a Garrison, but since
the Reducement of these Parts under His Majesties Obedience, and a
Patent granted to his Royal Highness the Duke of _York_, which is about
six years, by the care and diligence of the Honorable Collonel
_Nichols_, sent thither as Deputy to his Highness, such a League of
Peace was made, and Friendship concluded betwixt that Colony and the
_Indians_, that they have not resisted or disturb’d any _Christians_
there, in the setling or peaceable possessing of any Lands within that
Government, but every Man hath sat under his own Vine, and hath
peaceably reap’d and enjoy’d the Fruits of their own Labors, which God
continue.
[Sidenote: _Raritan-River._]
Westward of _After-skull_ River before mention’d, about eighteen or
twenty Miles, runs in _Raritan_ River Northward into the Countrey some
scores of Miles; both sides of which River are adorn’d with spacious
Meadows, enough to feed thousands of Cattel: The Wood-Land is very good
for Corn, and stor’d with wild Beasts, as Deer, Elks, and an innumerable
multitude of Fowl, as in other parts of the Countrey. This River is
thought very capable for the erecting of several Towns and Villages on
each side of it, no place in the North of _America_ having better
convenience for the maintaining of all sorts of Cattel for Winter and
Summer Food.
Upon this River is no Town setled, onely one at the Mouth of it; but
next to it, Westward, is a Place call’d _Newasons_; where are two or
three Towns and Villages setled upon the Sea-side, but none betwixt that
and _Delaware-Bay_, which is about sixty Miles, all which is a rich
Champain Countrey, free from Stones, and indifferent level, having store
of excellent good Timber, and very well water’d, having Brooks or Rivers
ordinarily, one or more in every Miles travel. This Countrey is peopled
onely with wild Beasts, as Deer, Elks, Bears, and other Creatures, so
that in a whole days Journey you shall meet with no Inhabitants except a
few _Indians_. It is also full of stately Oaks, whose broad-branch’d
tops serve for no other use, but to keep off the Suns heat from the wild
Beasts of the Wilderness, where is Grass as high as a Man’s Middle,
which serves for no other end, except to maintain the Elks and Deer, who
never devour a hundredth part of it, than to be burnt every Spring to
make way for new. How many poor People in the World would think
themselves happy, had they an Acre or two of Land, whilst here is
hundreds, nay thousands of Acres that would invite Inhabitants.
[Sidenote: _Delaware-Bay._]
_Delaware-Bay_, the Mouth of the River, lieth about the mid way betwixt
_New York_ and the _Capes_ of _Virginia_.
The best Commodities for any to carry with them to this Countrey is
Clothing, the Countrey being full of all sorts of Cattel, which they may
furnish themselves withal at an easie Rate, for any sort of _English_
Goods, as likewise Instruments for Husbandry and Building, with Nails,
Hinges, Glass, and the like. They get a Livelihood principally by Corn
and Cattel, which will there fetch them any Commodities: Likewise they
Sowe store of Flax, which they make every one Cloth of for their own
wearing; as also Woollen Cloth, and Linsey-woolsey; and had they more
Tradesmen amongst them, they would in a little time live without the
help of any other Countrey for their Clothing; for Tradesmen there are
none but live happily there, as Carpenters, Blacksmiths, Masons,
Taylors, Weavers, Shoemakers, Tanners, Brickmakers, and so any other
Trade: Them that have no Trade betake themselves to Husbandry, get Land
of their own, and live exceeding well.