Horses.
The Horses bred in this Countrey, being either brought thither fromEnglandorUtrecht, far exceed those ofEnglishbreed; 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.
Hogs.
The Oaken Woods have store of Hogs, which if taken and fatned withTurkishWheat, are most delicious Meat.
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.
Lyons.
The Lyons, whose Skins theIndiansbring to Market, are taken on a high Mountain fifteen days Journey South-West from thence.
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.
Strange Beasts.
On the Borders ofCanadathere 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 ofNew Yorkare many Buffles, Beasts which (according toErasmus 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 havegreat 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.
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.
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, whichCardanusmaintain’d, is contradicted byJulius 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.
Plin.lib. 32. cap. 3.
Besides all other wild Creatures, the Countrey according toAdrian Vander Donk, produces yearly eighty thousand Beavers.Plinyrelates, 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. ButPlinymakes 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 rightCastoreum, so highly esteem’d by Physicians, is a longVesica, not unlike a Pear, within the body of the female Beaver, theIndiansmince the Cods of the Male Beavers amongst their Tobacco, because they produce noCastoreum.
Fowls inNew 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 theyare 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.
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 WinterKings, and which are most remarkable for their rich Feathers, theSpechtes, 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 theIndiansremove with them to the place where they make their Nests, where the young ones being taken by hundreds, serve them for a Moneths Provision.
Pretty Birds.
Moreover,New Yorkbreeds 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.
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: InMarchand Harvest the Waters swarm with Geese, Teal, Snites, Ducks, and Pelicans, besides many strange sorts of Fowls not known inEurope.
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.
Rattle-Snake.
Amongst the Poysonous Creatures which infestNew York, the chiefest and most dangerous is theRattle-Snake, whose description we have already had at large inNew England.
Constitution of the Inhabitants.
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, andIndianWheat, which stamp’d, is boyl’d to a Pap, by them call’dSappaen: 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.
Hudson’s adventures remarkable.
Henry Hudsonrelates, That Sailing in the RiverMontains, in forty Degrees, he saw theIndiansmake 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 oldIndianCommander 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, andIndianBeans to dry, besides the Plants which grew in the Fields. No sooner hadHudsonenter’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 forHudsonsEntertainment, but not willing to venture himself amongst them, that Night, tasted not of it, notwithstanding theIndiansbreaking their Darts, threw them into the fire, that thereby they might drive away all fears and jealousies from him.
New NetherlandersApparel.
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 andSea-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 withSea-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 withSea-shells, with which they adorn their Foreheads, and also wear the same about their Neck and Hands, and some also about their middle. Before theHollanderswere Planted here, they wore Shoes and Stockings ofBuffelo’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.
Their houses.
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 fifteendwell 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 OakenPallisadoeson 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.
Many Wives.
Marriages.
Whoring permitted.
Strange Marrying.
Child-bearing Womens strange actions.
Funerals.
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 setPallisadoes, 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.
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, beatingthemselves, 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.
Language of theNew Netherlanders.
The Language of this Countrey is very various, yet it is divided into onely four principal Tongues, as theManhattans,Wappanoo,Siavanoo, andMinqua’s, which are very difficult for Strangers to learn, because they are spoken without any Grounds or Rules.
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.
Vices and Vertues.
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 theHollanders, 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.
Arms.
Remarkable actions of some Prisoners.
Laws.
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.
Religion.
Diabolical Worship.
Their ridiculous Opinion of God.
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 ofSatan, 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 thanChristians, 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 theChristianFaith.
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.
TheirCanticas, or Dancing.
At theirCanticas, or Dancing-Matches, where all Persons that come are freely Entertain’d, it being a Festival time. Their Custom is when they Dance, for theSpectators 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 anEnglish-man to look upon them, resembling rather a company of infernal Furies than Men.
Their sitting in Council.
When their King orSachemsits 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 ofNew YorkliethStaten-Island, it bears fromNew YorkWest 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 asLong-Islanddoth, besides Tin and store of Iron Oar; and theCalamineStone is said likewise to be found there: There is but one Town upon it, consisting ofEnglishandFrench, but it is capable of entertaining more Inhabitants.
Betwixt this andLong-Islandis a large Bay, which is the coming in for all Ships and Vessels out of the Sea.
On the North-side of this IslandAfter-skullRiver 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 inVirginia, with mighty, tall, streight Timber, as good as any in the North ofAmerica: It produceth any Commodity whichLong-Islanddoth.
Hudson’s River runs byNew YorkNorthward into the Countrey, towards the Head of which is seatedNew Albany, a Place of great Trade with theIndians, betwixt which andNew 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 theDutchGovernment of these Parts could not be setled by reason of theIndians, exceptingone Place, call’dThe 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 ofYork, which is about six years, by the care and diligence of the Honorable CollonelNichols, sent thither as Deputy to his Highness, such a League of Peace was made, and Friendship concluded betwixt that Colony and theIndians, that they have not resisted or disturb’d anyChristiansthere, 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.
Raritan-River.
Westward ofAfter-skullRiver before mention’d, about eighteen or twenty Miles, runs inRaritanRiver 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 ofAmericahaving 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’dNewasons; where are two or three Towns and Villages setled upon the Sea-side, but none betwixt that andDelaware-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 fewIndians. 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.
Delaware-Bay.
Delaware-Bay, the Mouth of the River, lieth about the mid way betwixtNew Yorkand theCapesofVirginia.
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 ofEnglishGoods, 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.
We shall conclude our Discourse of this Countrey with a notable Character given thereof by a late Writer, as to the great advantage of happy living in all respects, for whosoever shall be pleas’d to betake himself thither to live.
The Character of a happy Countrey.
“If there be any terrestrial happiness (saith he) to be had by any People, especially of an inferior rank, it must certainly be here. Here any one may furnish himself with Land, and live Rent-free, yea, with such a quantity of Land, that he may weary himself with walking over his Fields of Corn, and all sorts of Grain, and let his Stock amount to some hundreds; he needs not fear there want of Pasture in the Summer, or Fodder in the Winter, the Woods affording sufficient supply, where you have Grass as high as a Man’s Knees, nay, as high as his Waste, interlac’d with Pea-Vines, and other Weeds that Cattel much delight in, as much as a Man can pass through: And these Woods also every Mile or half-Mile are furnish’d with fresh Ponds, Brooks, or Rivers, where all sorts of Cattel, during the heat of the day, do quench their thirst, and cool themselves. These Brooks and Rivers being inviron’d of each side with several sorts of Trees and Grape-Vines, Arbor-like interchanging places, and crossing these Rivers, do shade and shelter them from the scorching beams of the Sun. Such as by their utmost Labors can scarcely get a Living, may here procure Inheritances of Lands and Possessions, stock themselves with all sorts of Cattel, enjoy the benefit of them whilst they live, and leave them to their Children when they die. Here you need not trouble the Shambles for Meat, nor Bakers and Brewers for Beer and Bread, nor run to a Linnen-Draper for a supply, every one making their own Linnen, and a great part of their woollen Cloth for their ordinary wearing. And how prodigal (if I may so say) hath Nature been to furnish this Countrey with all sorts of wild Beasts and Fowl, which every one hath an interest in, and may Hunt at his pleasure; where, besides the pleasure in Hunting, he may furnish his House with excellent fat Venison, Turkies, Geese, Heath-hens, Cranes, Swans, Ducks, Pigeons, and the like; and wearied with that, he may go a Fishing, where the Rivers are so furnish’d, that he may supply himself with Fish before he can leave off the Recreation. Here one may travel by Land upon the same Continent hundreds of Miles, and pass through Towns and Villages, and never hear the least complaint for want, nor hear any ask him for a Farthing. Here one may lodge in the Fields and Woods, travel from one end of the Countrey to another, with as much security as if he were lock’d within his own Chamber: And if one chance to meet with anIndianTown, they shall give him the best Entertainment they have, and upon his desire direct him on his Way. But that which adds happiness to all the rest, is the healthfulness of the Place, where many People in twenty years time never know what Sickness is; where they look upon it as a great Mortality, if two or three die out of a Town in a years time. Besides the sweetness of the Air, the Countrey it self sends forth such a fragrant smell, that it may be perceiv’d at Sea before they can make the Land: No evil Fog or Vapor doth any sooner appear, but a North-West or Westerly Wind immediately dissolves it, and drives it away. Moreover, you shall scarce see a House, but the South-side is begirt with Hives of Bees, which increase after an incredible manner: So that if there be any terrestrialCanaan, ’tis surely here, where the Land floweth with Milk and Honey.”
Noua TERRÆ-MARIÆ, tabula