J 7 2 OLD DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK. 



Island, and a little higher the Manhattan, so called by 

 the natives which dwell on the east side of the river. They 

 are a^cruel people and enemies to the Hollanders, as also the 

 Sanhikans, which reside on the western shore. Farther up are 

 the Makwaes, and Mahicans, which continually war one against 

 another. In like manner all the inhabitants on the west side of 

 the river Manhattan are usually at enmity with those that 

 possess the eastern shore. 



This country has many remarkable waterfalls descending 

 from steep rocks, large creeks and harbours, fresh lakes and 

 rivulets, pleasant fountains and springs, some of which boil 

 in the winter, and are cold and delightful to drink in summer. 

 The sea coast is hilly, and of a sandy and clayey soil, which 

 produces abundance of herbs and trees. 



The oak grows there from sixty to seventy feet, for the 

 most part free from knots, which makes it the better fit for 

 shipping. ^ The nut trees afford good fuel. Some plants 

 brought hither, grow better than in Holland itself, as apples, 

 pears, cherries, peaches, apricots, strawberries and the like. 

 The vines grow wild in most places, and bear abundance of 

 blue, _ white, and muscadine grapes. Sometimes since, the 

 inhabitants have made wine of them, which is not inferior to 

 either Rhenish or French. 



All manner of plants known in Europe grow in their 

 gardens. Water Melons, Calabasscs and Pumpkins are very 

 abundant. The wheat, though six feet high, grows very 

 speedily. Peas are gathered twice a year, barley springs 

 above a man s height. Medicinal herbs, and Indigo grow 

 wild in great abundance. In some places also, is store of 

 mountain Crystal, and that sort of mineral which is called 

 Musco-via Glass. Others afford marble, serpentine stone, gold 

 and silver. 



When Captain William Clieff, in 1645, employed the 

 Indian Interpreter, Agheroense, to decide the differences which 

 arose between the West India Company and the wild people 

 called Makwaes, he observed him to paint his face with a yellow 

 glittering colour, which he judged to be of some rich mineral, 

 whereupon, buying some, of the said Agheroeuse, he put it into 

 a crucible, and gained two small pieces of gold out of the same, 

 valued at six shillings, but keeping it private and purchasing a 

 great quantity of the said mineral^ he extracted from it a good 

 store of gold, which he sent to Holland in the Arent Corsen, of 

 New Haven, but the ship was lost, and was never heard of after 

 wards, and the Princess Pink, in which Captain Clieff was, 



