that they had never injured the wliites and asked the reason why the latter had meddled with them ; Had it been otherwise, tliey would not have acted as they had. There being no Commander, Pieter Earentsen assumed the

Command of Fort Orange by order of Director Minuit ^^de™" There were eight families there, and ten or twelve

seamen in the Company's service. The fort was to remain garrisoned by sixteen men, without women, and the families were to leave there this year in order to strengthen with people the Colony near the Manhates who were becoming more and more accustomed to the strangers.

The Natives are always seeking some advantage by thieving.

The crime is seldom punished among them. If any one Living. commit that offence too often he is stript bare of his

goods, and must resort to other means anotlier time. The husband who abandons his wife without cause must leave all lier's ; in like manner the wafe the husband's. But as tliey love the children ardently, these are frequently the cause of their coming again together. The Girls allow their liair to be cut all around, hke the priests, when they are unwell for the first time. Tliey work apart from all {\\q men in a separaie house, where food is furnished them on a stick. They remain therein until they are sick a second time. Then they make their appearance abroad again, and are allowed to marry. They then again dress their hair, which before they would not touch. Tlie married women let their hair grow to the waist & smear it v.- ith oil. When they are unweE tliey do not eat witli their husbands, and tliey sup their drink out of the hand. Tlie men let tlie hair grow on one side of the liead lor a braid ; tlie rest is cut ofi".