The colony began to advance bravely and

continues in friendship witii the natives. The fur, or other tra(4e, remains in the West India company, others being forbidden to trade there. Rich beavers, otters, martins and foxes are found there. This cargo consists of five hundred otter skins, andfifteen hundred beavers, and a few other things, which were in four parcels, for twenty-eight thousand, some hundred guilders.^

1 Tlie cargfo of the New Netherland, was sold in Amstcnkni on 20th D*c.lb'24.

38 FIRST SETTLEMENT OF KEW-YORIi BY THE DUTCH.

This country, or the river Montague, called by our's Mauritius, was first sailed to by the worthyiHendi-ick Chris- How the river tiaensen van Cleef. When he went a voya^^e to the

was discover- "^ °

ed. West Indies, he happened near there. But his vessel being deeply laden, and a ship belonging to Monichendam having been wrecked in that neighborhood, he durst not approach tliat land ; this he postponed, being desirous to do so another time. It so happened that he and the worthy Adriaen Block, chartered a sliip with the skipper Ryser, and accomplished his voyage thither, bringing back with him two sons of the principal sachems there. Though very dull men, they were expert enough in knavery. Hudson, the famous English pilot, had been there also, to reach the south sea, but found no passage ; as men will read in the Netherlands History, in the year 1612.

Tliis aforesaid Hendrick Clu-istiaensz, after he had dissolved pai-tnership with Adiiaen Block, made ten voyages thither, in virtue of a grant from the Lords States, wlio granted Mm that privilege for tlie first establishment of the place. On the expiration of that privilege, this country was granted to the West India company, to draw their profits thence ; as lias already been done, and sliall still further increase from the products which are manifest there, whereof furtlier detail will be given in the next, as much depends on success.