Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. IV
The animals are also of the same species as ours, except Lions and some other strange beasts, many Bears, abundance of Wolves which harm nobody but the small cattle, Elks and Deer in abundance, Foxes, Beavers, Otters, Minx and such like. The birds, which are natural to the Country are Turkeys like ours, Swans, Geese of three sorts, Ducks, Teals, Cranes, Herons, Bitterns, two sorts of Heath fowls or Pheasants. The River fish is like that of Europe, viz. Carp, Sturgeon, Salmon, Pike, Perch, Roach, Eel, &e--In the Salt waters are found Codfish, Shellfish, Herring and so forth, also abundance of oysters and muscles. "The Indians are of ordinary stature, Strong and broad shouldered ; olive color, light and nimble of foot, subtle in disposition, of few words which they previously well consider, hypocritical, treacherous, vindictive ; brave and obstinate in self defence, in time of need right resolute to die. They seem to despise all the torments that can be inflicted on them without once uttering a sigh--go almost naked except a Jap which hangs before their nakedness, and on the shoulders a deer skin or a mantle, a fathom square of woven Turkey feathers or peltries sewed together, they make use now greatly of Duffels, Cloths Blue or Red, in consequence of the frequent visits of the Christians. In winter they make shoes of Deer Skins, manufactured after their fashion. Except their chiefs, they have generally but one wife whom they frequently change aceording to caprice ; she must do all the work, as well corn planting as wood cutting and whatever else is to bedone. hey are divided into various nations. They differ even in Language, which