The farmer, being conveyed with his family over sea to New Netherland, was granted by the Company for the term of six years a Bouwery, which was partly cleared, and a good part of which was fit for the plough.

The Company furnished the farmer a house, barn, farming implements and tools, together with four horses, four cows, sheep and pigs in proportion, the usufruct and enjoyment of which the husbandman should have during the six years, and on the

36 INFORMATION RELATIVE TO

expiration thereof return thenumber of cattlehe received. The entire increase remained with the farmer. ,The farmer was bound to pay yearly one hundred guilders ($40) and eighty pounds of butter rent for the cleared land and bouwery.

The country people who obtained the above mentioned conditions all prospered during their residence on the Company's lands.

Afterwards the cattle belonging to the Company in New Netherland were distributed for some years among those who had no means to purchase stock.

The risk of the Cattle dying is shared in common and after the expiration of the contract, the Company receives, if the Cattle live, the number the husbandman first received, and the increase which is over, is divided half and half, by which means many people have obtained stock and even to this day, the Company have still considerable cattle among the Colonists, who make use on the above conditions of the horses in cultivating the farm ; the cows serve for the increase of the stock and for the support of their families.