In short, 'tis thus far with the English, that they are very willing to recognize the Netherlanders, and make use of them as a cloak in time of need, but again when this is past, they regard them not and make fools of them. This proceeds entirely from having neglected to people the country, or to speak plainer and more correctly, from a desire, through motives of selfishness, to scrape all the fat into one or two pots, and therefore to continue trade, and neglect population. Long Island, which is a crown of the province by reason of its great advantage Long uiand is a

of excellent bays and harbors as well as convenient and fertile lands, they have eS? also entirely usurped, except Breukelen and Amersfoort, two Dutch villages of little moment on the West end and some English settlements, such as ;

Gravesend, Greenwich, Mespat whence the people were driven away in the There are few peo- War and which was afterwards confiscated by Director Kieft, but the proprietor ^"^ '"""^

appealed and so it yet remains, and there are very few people in the place now. Flushing, which is a handsome village and tolerably stocked with cattle; the Flushing is a hand- °°'°^'°"°" fourth and last is Heemstee, which is superior to all the rest, for it is very rich in cattle.

But, now, since we have entered on the subject of Long Island, we shall (14) or Long island in ^"^""''"' treat of it somewhat more at length, because the English greatly hanker after it. The Ocean on the south, and the East river on the north side form this Island, which, as we have already remarked, is a crown of New Netherland, on account of its convenient position, its suitable harbors, and anchorage grounds. The East river, which separates it from Manhathans Island as far as the Hellgate, is tolerably wide and convenient.