On: the other side southward. towards Virginia, its limits are the river Which they callthe South river on which there:is also a Dutch settlement, but the Swedes have at its mouth another extremely well provided with men and cannon. It is believed that these Swedes. are maintained by some merchants of Amsterdam, who are not satisfied that the West India Company should alone enjoy all the commerce of these parts. . It is near this river that a gold mine.is reported to have been found. .

_ See in the work of the Sieur de Laet of Antwerp the table and article on New Belgium ag he sometimes calls it or. the map ; Nova Anglia, Novi Belgium et Virginia.

A DESCRIPTION OF NEW NETHERLAND. 23

It'is about fifty years since the Hollanders came to these parts. The fort was begun in.the year 1615: they began to settle about twenty years ago and there is already some little commerce with Virginia and New England. '

The first comers found lands fit for use,'formerly cleared by the savages who previously had fields here. 'Those who'came later have cleared in the woods, which are mostly of oak. The ~ soil is good. Deer hunting is abundant in the fall. There are some houses built of stone; they make lime of oyster shells, great heaps of which are found here made formerly by the savages, who subsisted in part by this fishery.

The climate is very mild. Lying at 402° degrees; there are many European fruits, as apples, pears, cherries. I reached there in October, and found even then a considerable quantity of peaches.