Here are also mountain crystal, glass like that in Muscovy, great abundance of green Of the Btonea and Serpentine, grey hearth-stone, slate, brown grindstone, flint, pebbles, paving their purposes. , r r , , r , r stones, large quantities of every sort ot quarry stone suitable lor the manufactory of millstones and for the construction of all sorts of buildings. Here also are plume-alum and divers other mordants, which might be applicable to the service Of the paints. of man. There are also various descriptions of dyes here, but the Christians are not experienced in them, though they are seen daily on the Indians who are conversant with, and also make use of them, to paint themselves of divers colors. Were it not for lack of explorers, they could be easily discovered and employed.

' Areut Corssen. Anno 1645, 6. -- Ed.

HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 281

(9) OF THE AMERICANS, OR NATIVES THEIR APPEARANCE, OCCUPATION ;

AND FOOD.

The natives are generally well limbed, slender around the waist, broad shouldered; all having black hair and brown eyes; they are very nimble and swift of pace, well adapted to travel on foot and to carry heavy burdens; they are dirty and slovenly in all their habits ; make light of all sorts of hardships, being by nature and from youth upward accustomed thereunto. They resemble Brazilians in color, or are as tawny as those people who sometimes ramble through Netherland and are called Gipsies. Generally, the men have very little ^J;;,^"^'!,^"-^'^ or no beard, some even pluck it out; they use very few words, which they previously well consider. Naturally they are quite modest, without guile and inexperienced, but in their way haughty enough, ready and quick witted to comprehend or learn, be it good or bad, whatever they are most inclined to.