Narrative of New Netherland | Page 9

out-of-doors at any working of
the land, and in-doors he was a burden to me instead of an assistance.
He is now elsewhere at service among the farmers.
<1> Slavery was introduced into New Netherland two or three years
before this, a number of negroes, some of them from Angola, having
been imported in 1625 or 1626.
The promise which the Honorable Directors of the Company had made
me of some morgens or acres of land for me to sustain myself, instead
of a free table which otherwise belonged to me, is void and useless. For
their Honors well knew that there are no horses, cows, or laborers to be

obtained here for money. Every one is short in these particulars and
wants more. I should not mind the expense if the opportunity only
offered, for the sake of our own comfort, although there were no profit
in it (the Honorable Directors nevertheless remaining indebted to me
for as much as the value of a free table), for refreshment of butter, milk,
etc., cannot be here obtained; though some is indeed sold at a very high
price, for those who bring it in or bespeak it are jealous of each other.
So I shall be compelled to pass through the winter without butter and
other necessities, which the ships do not bring with them to be sold
here. The rations, which are given out here, and charged for high
enough, are all hard stale food, such as men are used to on board ship,
and frequently not very good, and even so one cannot obtain as much
as he desires. I began to get considerable strength, by the grace of the
Lord, but in consequence of this hard fare of beans and gray peas,
which are hard enough, barley, stockfish, etc., without much change, I
cannot fully recuperate as I otherwise would. The summer yields
something, but what is that for any one who does not feel well? The
savages also bring some things, but one who has no wares, such as
knives, beads, and the like, or seewan, cannot come to any terms with
them. Though the people trade such things for proper wares, I know not
whether it is permitted by the laws of the Company. I have now ordered
from Holland almost all necessaries; and I hope to pass through the
winter, with hard and scanty food.
The country yields many good things for the support of life, but they
are all too unfit and wild to be gathered. Better regulations should be
established, and people brought here who have the knowledge and
implements for seeking out all kinds of things in their season and for
securing and gathering them. No doubt this will gradually be done. In
the meanwhile, I wish the Honorable Directors to be courteously
enquired of, how I can best have the opportunity to possess a portion of
land, and (even at my own expense) to support myself upon it. For as
long as there is no more accommodation to be obtained here from the
country people, and I shall be compelled to order everything from the
Fatherland at great expense and with much risk and trouble, or else live
here upon these poor and hard rations alone, it will badly suit me and
my children. We want ten or twelve more farmers with horses, cows
and laborers in proportion, to furnish us with bread, milk products, and

suitable fruits. For there are convenient places which can be easily
protected and are very suitable, which can be bought from the savages
for trifling toys, or could be occupied without risk, because we have
more than enough shares which have never been abandoned but have
been always reserved for that purpose.
The business of furs is dull on account of the new war of the
Maechibaeys<1> against the Mohicans at the upper end of this river.
There have occurred cruel murders on both sides. The Mohicans have
fled and their lands are unoccupied and are very fertile and pleasant. It
grieves us that there are no people, and that there is no order from the
Honorable Directors to occupy the same. Much timber is cut here to
carry to the Fatherland, but the vessels are too few to take much of it.
They are making a windmill to saw lumber and we also have a gristmill.
They bake brick here, but it is very poor. There is good material for
burning lime, namely, oyster shells, in large quantities. The burning of
potash has not succeeded; the master and his laborers are all greatly
disappointed.
<1> Mohawks.
We are busy now in building a fort of good quarry stone, which is to be
found not far from here in abundance. May the Lord only build and
watch