But the Dutch occupation of the mouth and valley of the Connecticut River was never otherwise than merely nominal, a fact which, in view of the easily conceivable future importance of that quarter in connection with the maintenance of Dutch territorial claims, is certainly striking, and characteristically illustrates Dutch deliberation and inefficiency in colonizing development as contrasted with English alacrity ami thoroughness. Moreover, all the connecting circumstances indicate that the establishment by the Dutch of a fort and trading-post on the Connecticut was not prompted by serious designs of consecutive settlement, but was a pure extemporization in the interest of ultimate insistence upon lawful ownership of that region. From 1623, the year in which Manhattan Island was regularly settled,

3(3

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

Dutch colony had until 1639, a period of sixteen years, not a single had taken up been founded, and probably not a single Dutch family and the Harlem the n betwee ening interv y its abode, in all the countr watered with Connecticut Rivers-a country splendidly wooded and l lands, and vastly ima highly interesting coast and rich alluviaof the dominions of New portant as an integral and related portion the whirlpool of Hell that replied be s perhap may It land. Nether intercourse with the ient conven to e Gate presented a natural obstacl settlement m shores of the Sound, and consequently to advantageous Island coltan Manhat the if the entire trans-Harlem country. But it would ony had been animated by any noticeable spirit of progress, to this access finding t withou pass to years sixteen d not have allowe or and Is tan Manhat of region, either from the northern extremity develgeneral no was there is, from the Long Island side. The truth m opment bythe Dutch even of Manhattan Island during the period aggreregular any by ed occupi was question/ Only its southern end ation still existed mainly for the gation of settlers, and this aggreg sending to Holland " beavbusiness of bartering with the Indians and produc ts which, as declared er skins minks, and other furs," the only Netherland, were New of ion in the " Report of 1638 on the Condit afforded by the province. had To review the comparative situation in 1610, while the English coll practica and earnest an as d advance steadilv and systematically onizing people, covering the land from Plymouth Rock to the Sound ment with organized settlements which sought the immediate develop with ry, stationa d remaine had Dutch the s, resource e availabl its of all had they true is It only a single settlement worthy of consideration. located and occupied a few trading-posts in and around New York Bay, Bay, as well as in distant parts of New Xetherland-- in Delaware But River. cut Connecti the on and Albany, at Hudson upper on the no case creditable colonizing enthese deavor. enterprises represented in It has been seen that, in the years 1639 and 1610, Cornelius Y an Tienhoven, as the representative of Director-General Kieft, purchased from the Indians, first, a large Westchester tract called Keskeskeck, and, second, lands covering generally the southeastern section of this county and extending to the Norwalk River.