It is immediately south of another, which is also the principal and best as regards trade and population, and is called Rio Montanjes, on account of some mountains, or Mauritius' river, commonly the North river, because its course is mainly, and for a great distance, towards the north. The third is the East river, so named because it stretches East from the Manathans. This is The East river, > esteemed by many not a river but a bay, because 'tis very wide in some places, runs eastS^wJ and opens at both ends into the sea. We, however, consider it a river, and it is

294 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. generally so reckoned. The fourth is the Fresh river, because its water is, for the most part, fresh, more so than that of the others. In addition to these rivers, there are many and various bays, harbors and inlets, very convenient and still

useful, some of vs-hich fully deserve the name of rivers. There is also abundance of lakes, some large, some small, besides navigable kills, which are very like rivers, and multitudes of creeks very useful for navigating over all parts of the country, as the (23) Map of New Netherland will demonstrate to us. There are, besides, many and various waterfalls and streams adapted for the erection of ereMmiiuon.*"" ^" sorts of mills for man's use, and innumerable small rivulets and brooks throughout the whole land, as arteries through a body ; the water of all is fresh, except of some few at the sea side which are salt and fresh, or brackish, all very good drink for wild and domestic animals ; discharging their surplus waters into the rivers or into the sea. In addition to all these, there are fountains and springs, innumerable, every where throughout the country, even at places where they would not be expected, as on cliffs and rocks, from which they burst forth A great many foun- like watcr spouts ; and some are of such a nature that they are worthy attention, New ^Netherland, not onlv bccausc thev are all, except r those in the thickets, very clear and pure. some of J wbich tr >