The wife was handed her share of the goods and put out of

doors by the husband, and was then free to marry another.

In

cases of separation the children followed the mother, and were

frequently

the

cause of the parents coming together again.

The man who abandoned his wife without cause left her all

OF HUDSON'S RI7ER.

her property, and in like manner the wife the husband's. Foul and impertinent language was despised by them. All romping, caressing and

wanton behavior they spoke of with contempt,

as indirect alurements to unchastity, and reproved such conduct

The Dutch made wives of many of Netherlanders. them and retained them, refusing to leave them for females of

in the

their own country.

Most of the diseases incident to females of the present day were unknown to them. Before confinement it was their custom to retire to a secluded place near a brook, or stream of water, and prepare a shelter for themselves with mats and covering and food, and await delivery "without the company or aid of any person." After their children were born, and if were males, they immersed them some time especially they in the water, no matter what the temperature, and then swathed them in warm clothing and gave them great attention. Several days after delivery they returned to their homes, but until the was weaned, had no commerce with their husbands,

child

holding it to be disgraceful and injurious to their offspring. In sickness they were very faithful to each other, and when death occurred the next of kin closed the eyes of the deceased.