Thousands of Beavers can be bought here and around the Schuylkil, or Bevers reede, the Company's constructed Redoubt, which are brought down in great abundance by the Southern Indians (called Minquas) and by the Black Indians, so that this river has been always held in great esteem and repute by the Company and its Agents, on account of its fitness and great convenience both for Trade and Agriculture. This River had been for many years in the peaceable and quiet possession of the Company

until, at length, a certain person named Pieter Minuyt, forgetful of the benefits conferred on him by the Company, whose Director he had been in New Netherland, cast his eye upon it. But not knowing under what pretence to go there, he proceeded to Sweden and having, as 'twas asserted, obtained a Commission from that Crown, transported himself thence forthwith to the South River with one or two ships and some Swedes, the most of whom were banditti, where in the year 1633, and consequently full twelve years after the Company had come there, he had a fort erected called Christina, about five @^ six leagues below the Company's fort Nassau, notwithstanding as first discoverers and possessors of the aforesaid river, the latter had caused its Servants to protest repeatedly against them as appears by divers letters of their Director ;

Willem Kieft, extracts whereof are hereunto annexed under N° 1. The land named the Schuylkil, where, as already mentioned, fort Bevers reede stands, was purchased from the right owners and principal Indians in the year 1633, by Arent Corssen, the Company's Servant, and conveyed to the Company, which conveyance the aforesaid Indian Chiefs did also, in the year 1648, renew and confirm, as can be seen by the Deed and conveyance annexed, N° 2. The Swedes, notwithstanding, have erected a fort on these grounds and streams so indisputably belonging to the Company, namely, on the point of the Shuylkil aforesaid, by them called Kievit's hook, and moreover built there also a trading house right in front of the gate of the Company's fortress Bevers reede, not a rod from the gate, whereby our people were wholly shut out from the sight of the road, so as the better to deprive the Company of the Beaver trade, whereunto they directed all their efforts, and so ruined the trade, that it has become unprofitable to the Company, to its serious damage and loss.