170 







Manhattans 

 River. 



Wkolefom 1 

 JVaters. 



Jrecfej 



A M E %^J C A. Cliap. II. 



any Burthen may Ride fecure againft any Storms, the Current of the River being 

 broken by the interpofition of a fmall Ifland, which lies a Mile diftant from the 



Town. 



About ten Miles from Ne» York is a Place call'd Hell-Gate, which being a nar- 

 row Paffage, there runneth a violent Stream both upon Flood and Ebb 5 and in the 

 middle lie fo me Rocky Iflands, which the Current fets fo violently upon, that 

 it threatens prefent Shipwrack ; and upon the Flood is a large Whirlwind, which 

 continually fends forth a hideous roaring, enough to affright any Stranger from 

 pafling farther, and to wait for fome Charon to conduct him through 5 yet to thofc 

 that are well acquainted,little or no danger : It is a place of great Defence againft 

 any Enemy coming in that way, which a fmall Forticfiation would abfolutely 

 prevent, and neceflitate them to come in at the Weft end of Long-Iflan d by Sandy 

 Hoofc, where T^utten Ifland forces them within the Command of the Fort at New York, 

 which is one of the bed Pieces ofjDefence in the North parts of America. It is built 

 moft of Brick and Stone, and cover'd with red and black Tyle, and the Land being 

 high, it gives at a diftance a pleafing profpeft to the Spectators, The Inhabitants 

 confiftmoft of English and Dutch, and have a confiderable Trade with Indians for 

 Beaver, Otter, and <]{ackoon*Sk\ns, with other Furrs . as alfo for Bear, Deer and 

 Elke-Skins . and are fupply'd with Venifon and Fowl in the Winter, and Fifli in 

 the Summer by the Indians, which they buy at an eafie Rate • and having the Coun- 

 trey round about them, they are continually furnifh'd with all fuch Provifionsas 

 is needful for the Life of Man, not onely by the Engltfh and Dutch within their own, 

 but likewife by the adjacent Colonies. 



The Manhattans, or Great (^iver,being the chiefeft, having with two wide Mouths 

 wafli'd the mighty Ifland IVatowtoaks, falls into the Ocean. The Southern Mouth 

 is call'd fort May, or Godyns Bay. In the middle thereof lies an Ifland call'd The 

 States Ifland ; and a little higher the Manhattans, fo call'd from the Natives, which 

 on the Eaft fide of the River dwell on the Main Continent- They are a cruel Peo- 

 ple, and Enemies to the Hollanders, as alfo of the Sanhikans, which refidc on the 

 Weftern Shore. Farther up arc the Makwaes and Mahikans, which continually War 

 one againft another. In like manner all the Inhabitants on the Weft fide of the Ri* 

 ver Manhattan are commonly at Enmity with thofe that poflefs the Eaftcrn Shore; 

 who alfo us'd to be at variance with the Hollanders, when as the other People 

 Weftward kept good Correfpondency with them. 



On a fmall Ifland near the Shore of the MakVaes, lay formerly a Fort, provided 

 with two Drakes and eleven Stone Guns, yet was at l^ft deferted. 



This Countrey hath many removable Water-falls, defcending from fteep Rocks, 

 large Creeks and Harbors j frefli Lakes and Rivulets, pleafant Fountains and 

 Springs, fome 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, becaufe the Water rifes not above a Foot 5 nor by the fwelling Rivers, 

 which Sometimes, for a few days covering the Plains, at their deferting them, 

 leave them fat and fruitful. The Sea-Coaft is Hilly, and of a fiindy and clayie 

 Soil which produces abundance of Herbs and Trees. 



The Oak grows there generally fixty or feventy Foot high,and for the moft part 

 free from Knots, which makes it the better fit for Shipping. 



The Nut-trees afford good Fuel, and a ftrange ProfpccT: when the Wood is fet 

 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 fclf, as Apples, Pears, 



Cherries, Peaches, Apricocks, Strawberries, and the like. » 



Their 



