He was so attentive as to give me the horse I rode on the day of my arrival. I found him as good as he is handsome ; but, above all, perfectly well broke and well trained, having a good mouth, easy in hand, and stopping short in a gallop without bearing the bit. I mention these minute particulars, because it is the General himself who breaks all his own horses. He is an excellent and bold
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horseman, leaping the highest fences, and going extremely quick, without standing upon his stirrups, bearing on the bridle, or letting his horse run wild ; circumstances which our young men look upon as so essential a part of English horsemanship, that they would rather break a leg or an arm than renounce them.
It was off Yerplanck's Point that Hudson's vessel, the Half- Moon, came to an anchor on the 1st of October, 1609. a-
" Here he was visited by the native HighlanderSjb who came flocking to the ship, expressing their wonder and astonishment to behold a vessel so superior to their canoes, and weapons so much more terrible than their own. Anxious to carry away to their friends some part of this floating world of wonders, and not satisfied with the trifles they received in return for skins, one of the canoes with one man in it lurked about the stern with a thievish tardiness, notwithstanding he was warned ofl". Watching an opportunity, he at length crawled up the rudder into the cabin window, and stole a pillow and a few articles of wearing apparel. The mate, little anticipating that justice, though slow, is sure, and would follow him even to the arctic circle, shot at the poor pilferer, and killed him. The rest fled, panic struck, and in their precipitance some leaped into the water.