16

A DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLANDS

serves as a Doundary between them and the English. The English however come very near tothem, preferring to hold lands under the Dutch who ask nothing from them rather than to bedependant on English Lords who exact rents and would fain be absolute. On the other sidesouthward towards Virginia, its limits are the river which they call the South river on which thereis also a Dutch settlement, but the Swedes have at its mouth another extremely well provided withmen and cannon. It is believed that these Swedes are maintained by some merchants of Amsterdam ,who are not satisfied that the West India Company should alone enjoy all the commerce of theseparts. It is near tliis river that a gold mine is reported to have been found.

See in the work of the Sieur de Laet of Antwerp the table and article on New Belgium as hesometimes calls it or the map ; Nova Anglia, JVovii Belgium, et Virginia.

It is about fifty years since the Hollanders came to these parts. The fort was begun in the year1615: they began to settle about twenty years ago and there is already some little commerce withVirginia and New England .

The first comers found lands fit for use, formerly cleared by the savages who previously hadfields here. Those who came later have cleared in the woods, which are mostly of oak. The soilis good. Deer hunting is abundant in the fall. There are some houses built of stone ; they makelime of oyster shells, great heaps of which are found here made formerly by the savages, whosubsisted in part by this fishery.

The climate is very mild. Lying at 40|° degrees; there are many European fruits, as applespears, cherries. I reached there in October, and found even then a considerable quantity ofpeaches.

Ascending the river to the 43 J degree you find the second Dutch settlement, which the flux andreflux reaches but does not pass. Ships of a hundred and a hundred and twenty tons can ascendto it.

There are two things in this settlement, which is called Renselaerswick, as if to say the colonyof Renselaer, who is a rich Amsterdam merchant: 1“ a wretched little fort called Ft Orenge,

built of logs with four or five pieces of cannon of Breteuil and as many swivels. This has beenreserved and is maintained by the West India Company . This fort was formerly on an island in theriver, it is now on the main land towards the Hiroquois, a little above the said island. 2 nd 'y, acolonie sent here by this Renselaer, who is the Patroon. This colonie is composed of about ahundred persons, who reside in some 25 or 30 houses, built along the river, as each one found itmost convenient. In the principal house resides the Patroon’s agent, the minister has his apart, inwhich service is performed. There is also a kind of bailiff here whom they call Seneschal, whoadministers justice. All their houses are merely of boards and thatched. As yet there is no masonwork, except in the chimneys. The forests furnishing many large pines, they make boards by meansof their mills which they have for the purpose.

They found some pieces of ground all ready, which the savages had formerly prepared and in whichthey sow wheat and oats for beer and for their horses, of which they have a great stock. Thereis little land fit for tillage, being crowded by hills which are bad soil. This obliges them to beseperated the one from the other, and they occupy already two or three leagues of country.

Trade is free to all, this gives the Indians all things cheap, each of the Hollanders outbidding hisneighbor and being satisfied provided he can gain some little profit.

This settlement is not more than twenty leagues from the Agnie.hronons, who can be reachedeither by land or by water, as the river on which the Iroquois lie falls into that which passes bythe Dutch : but there are many shallow' rapids and a fall of a short half league where the canoe hasto be carried.