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diff --git a/42327-8.txt b/42327-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1d62285..0000000 --- a/42327-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4219 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Peter of New Amsterdam, by James Otis - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Peter of New Amsterdam - A Story of Old New York - -Author: James Otis - -Release Date: March 13, 2013 [EBook #42327] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PETER OF NEW AMSTERDAM *** - - - - -Produced by David Edwards, David K. Park and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - - - -PETER OF NEW AMSTERDAM - -A STORY OF OLD NEW YORK - -BY - -JAMES OTIS - -[Illustration] - - NEW YORK -:- CINCINNATI -:- CHICAGO - AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1910, BY - JAMES OTIS KALER - ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL, LONDON - W. P. 4 - - - - -FOREWORD - - -The purpose of this series of stories is to show the children, and even -those who have already taken up the study of history, the _home life_ of -the colonists with whom they meet in their books. To this end every -effort has been made to avoid anything savoring of romance, and to deal -only with facts, so far as that is possible, while describing the daily -life of those people who conquered the wilderness whether for conscience -sake or for gain. - -That the stories may appeal more directly to the children, they are told -from the viewpoint of a child, and purport to have been related by a -child. Should any criticism be made regarding the seeming neglect to -mention important historical facts, the answer would be that these books -are not sent out as histories,--although it is believed that they will -awaken a desire to learn more of the building of the nation,--and only -such incidents as would be particularly noted by a child are used. - -Surely it is entertaining as well as instructive for young people to -read of the toil and privations in the homes of those who came into a -new world to build up a country for themselves, and such homely facts -are not to be found in the real histories of our land. - -JAMES OTIS. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - - WHERE I WAS BORN 9 - - ALONE IN HOLLAND 11 - - AN IMPORTANT INTRODUCTION 13 - - I GO MY WAY 15 - - THE BARGAIN 16 - - SAILING FOR THE NEW WORLD 18 - - A VIEW OF NEW NETHERLAND 20 - - THE "BROWN MEN" OR SAVAGES 22 - - SUMMONED TO THE CABIN 24 - - TOYS FOR THE SAVAGES 27 - - CLAIM OF THE WEST INDIA COMPANY 29 - - MAKING READY FOR TRADE 30 - - HANS BRAUN AND KRYN GILDERSLEEVE 32 - - THE GATHERING OF THE SAVAGES 34 - - GOING ASHORE 36 - - BUYING THE ISLAND OF MANHATTAN 38 - - BOATS USED BY THE SAVAGES 41 - - WANDERING OVER THE ISLAND 42 - - THE HOMES OF THE SAVAGES 44 - - MASTER MINUIT'S HOME 46 - - BEGINNING THE WORK 48 - - A STRANGE KIND OF CRAFT 49 - - BUILDING A FORT 52 - - IN CHARGE OF THE GOODS 53 - - THE VALUE OF WAMPUM 56 - - BUILDINGS OF STONE 59 - - THE GOVERNMENT 60 - - A PROSPEROUS TOWN 61 - - QUARRELSOME SLAVES 64 - - A BRUTAL MURDER 67 - - THE VILLAGE CALLED PLYMOUTH 68 - - I GO ON A VOYAGE 70 - - A LUKEWARM WELCOME 72 - - TWO DAYS IN PLYMOUTH 74 - - FORGING AHEAD 76 - - THE BIG SHIP 78 - - MASTER MINUIT'S SUCCESSOR 80 - - TROUBLE WITH THE ENGLISH 82 - - MASTER VAN TWILLER DISCHARGED 84 - - DIRECTOR KIEFT 86 - - UNJUST COMMANDS 88 - - MASTER MINUIT'S RETURN 90 - - THE REVENGE OF THE SAVAGES 91 - - MASTER KIEFT'S WAR 93 - - DIRECTOR PETRUS STUYVESANT 95 - - TIME FOR SIGHT-SEEING 97 - - HOW THE FORT WAS ARMED 99 - - VILLAGE LAWS 101 - - OTHER THINGS ABOUT TOWN 102 - - A VISIT OF CEREMONY 104 - - NEW AMSTERDAM BECOMES A CITY 106 - - MASTER STUYVESANT MAKES ENEMIES 107 - - ORDERS FROM HOLLAND 109 - - MAKING READY FOR WAR 110 - - AN UNEXPECTED QUESTION 112 - - WITH THE FLEET 114 - - DRIVING OUT THE SWEDES 116 - - THE UPRISING OF THE INDIANS 118 - - AN ATTACK BY THE INDIANS 120 - - HASTENING BACK TO NEW AMSTERDAM 122 - - COAXING THE SAVAGES 124 - - INTERFERENCE WITH RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 126 - - PUNISHING THE QUAKER 128 - - OTHER PERSECUTIONS 130 - - DULL TRADE 132 - - THE CHARGE MADE BY HANS BRAUN 133 - - DISMISSED BY MASTER STUYVESANT 134 - - ENGLISH CLAIMS 137 - - IDLE DAYS 138 - - ON BROAD WAY 139 - - LOOKING AFTER THE FERRY 142 - - THE COMING OF THE ENGLISH 143 - - A WEAK DEFENSE 145 - - MASTER STUYVESANT ABSENT 146 - - DISOBEYING COMMANDS 148 - - SURRENDER OF THE CITY DEMANDED 149 - - A THREE DAYS' TRUCE 150 - - VISITORS FROM THE ENGLISH 152 - - MASTER STUYVESANT'S RAGE 153 - - THE END OF DUTCH RULE 155 - - THE CITY OF NEW YORK 157 - - - - -PETER OF NEW AMSTERDAM - - - - -WHERE I WAS BORN - - -If I ever attempted to set down a story in words, it would be concerning -the time when I was much the same as a slave among the Dutch of New -Amsterdam, meaning a certain part of the world in that America where so -many of my father's countrymen came after they left England, because of -the King's not allowing them to worship God in the way they believed to -be right. - -It sounds odd to say that an English boy was ever held as slave by the -Dutch, and perhaps I have no right to make such statement, because it is -not strictly true, although there were many years in my life when I did -the same work, and received the same fare, as did the negroes in the -early days of New Amsterdam. - -Before I was born, my father was clerk to the post-master of Scrooby, -one William Brewster, and perhaps thus it was that when, because of -troubles concerning religion, Master Brewster journeyed to Leyden with a -company of people who were called Separatists, my parents went with -him. - -[Illustration] - -And so it was that I was born in Leyden, in the year of our Lord, 1612, -but I never knew what it was to have a mother, for mine died while I was -yet in the cradle. Thanks to the care of a loving, God-fearing father, -however, I could do very much toward looking out for myself by the time -I had come to the age of eight, when I was left entirely alone in the -world. I love now to think that during the years of my life while the -good man remained on this earth, I did not cause him any great anxiety, -and required little care. - -Within two months after my father died, which was in the year 1620, many -of the congregation in Leyden set off with Master Brewster for the New -World, there to build up a city where men might worship God in -whatsoever fashion they pleased. - -Those of the Separatists who were left behind, cared for me as best they -might until a year had passed; but none of them were overly burdened -with this world's goods, and, young though I was, I realized, in some -slight degree, what a tax the care of a lad nine years old was upon -them. - - - - -ALONE IN HOLLAND - - -[Illustration] - -Later, those who had in charity taken charge of me also set off to join -Master Brewster's company in America, and I, an English boy, was left -much the same as alone in Holland. I could speak the Dutch language, -however, and was willing to work at whatever came to hand, so that I -earned enough with which to provide me with food; as for clothing, I -wore the cast-off garments of the Dutch boys, whose mothers, taking -pity upon an orphan, freely gave them to me. - -Among the few English then left in Leyden was Master Jan Marais, a -professor in the University, whom my father had known; and he, so far as -lay in his power, kept a watchful eye over me; but this was only to the -extent of inquiring for my welfare when we met by chance, or in -recalling my name to those among his Dutch friends who were in need of -such services as so young a lad could render. - -Now it seems, although I knew nothing concerning it at the time, that -there had been formed in Holland, among the merchants, what was known as -the West India Company, whose purpose was to make a settlement in that -part of the New World which they had named New Netherland, claiming to -own it, and there trade with the savages, or engage in whatsoever of -business would bring in money. - -Master Peter Minuit--whom I should call Heer Minuit, because such is the -Dutch term for master, but the odd-sounding title never did ring true in -my ear--had been appointed by this company, which had already sent out -some people to the world of America, Director of the settlement that was -to be made. He came on a visit of leave-taking to Master Jan Marais, and -it so chanced, whether for good or for evil, that while the two were -walking in the streets of Leyden, they came upon me, standing idly in -front of a cook-shop, and saying to myself that if the choice were given -to me I would take this or that dainty to eat. - -[Illustration] - - - - -AN IMPORTANT INTRODUCTION - - -It may have been in a spirit of fun, or that perhaps Master Marais had -in mind to do me a good turn, but however it came about, he said as -gravely as if I were the burgomaster's son: - -"Heer Peter Minuit, allow me to present to you Master Peter Hulbert, who -has had the misfortune to lose both his father and his mother by death." - -Master Minuit was not unlike many others whom I had met, save that there -was in his face a certain look which bespoke a kindly heart, or so it -seemed, while he gazed at me much as he would at a young calf that he -had in mind to purchase. - -I never did lay claim to being comely, either as boy or man; but yet it -must have been that this sturdy visitor saw something about me which -attracted either his closest attention or his charity, for he said with -a kindly smile, as he patted me on the head: - -[Illustration] - -"Well, namesake Peter, since nearly all your English friends have gone -to America, what say you to voyaging in the same direction?" - -I failed to understand the meaning of the question, and probably stood -staring at him like a simple; yet at the same time I noted a quick -glance from Master Marais, as if the Director had said something which -caught his attention. An instant later, he said with more of seriousness -in his voice than seemed to me the matter warranted: - -"It may not be well, Heer Minuit, to put into the lad's head a desire -that cannot be gratified." - -"And why may it not be?" Master Minuit asked, wheeling sharply about. -"If namesake Peter has no friends in Holland who can take charge of him, -why may he not go to that land on the other side of the world with me? A -youngster of ten years might find many a meaner post than that of body -servant to the Director of the new town in America." - - - - -I GO MY WAY - - -Whatever speech these two may have had together afterward, I know not; -but certain it is that Master Marais, speaking to me hastily, as if it -were not well I should hear what passed between him and his friend, -directed that I go my way until nightfall, when I was to come into the -University grounds with the intent of seeing him. - -[Illustration] - -It was all very well to tell me to go my way; but I had none. One -section of Leyden was the same as another to me, who was penniless and -hungry, casting about in the hope of earning as much, by whatsoever -employment came my way, as would buy what might serve for supper. - -However, I was not so dull as to fail in understanding that Master -Marais would have me out of his path for a time, and I went off -rapidly, as though business in Leyden would come to a standstill if I -did not make haste. - -Then, once out of sight of these two, I looked about, keeping my eyes -wide open in the hope of seeing one who required my services, but -failing utterly, so that when night came, hunger had such a hold upon my -stomach that I was like to have begged from whosoever passed me on the -street. - -Had I done so, it would have been the first time in my life, and since -that afternoon I have had no reason to ask in charity aught of any one, -for surely have I earned double that which I have ever received. - - - - -THE BARGAIN - - -Now lest you think I am given to using too many words, it is enough if I -say that at the appointed time I met Master Marais at the University, -and there learned from him that Master Peter Minuit had offered to take -me as servant to that place in America which was called New Netherland, -pledging himself, in due time, to set me on a path which would lead to -honest manhood. He agreed to provide me with such an outfit as would be -needed, and to bear the charge of my living while we remained in -Holland. - -Master Marais, after first stating that it was for me to decide, since -my future, perhaps, depended upon the answer to be given Master Minuit, -advised that I accept gratefully the Director's offer. - -And so I did. What other could a lad, who had neither father nor mother, -say, when he was given a chance to earn honestly that which he needed -for the care of his body? - -[Illustration] - -To me, boy as I was, the long voyage overseas had no terrors; but was -rather an inducement, for I would see strange sights before coming to -the New World, and then who should say that I might not, one day, rise -to be as great a man as was Master Minuit? - -Master Marais told me I had decided well, when I said that I believed -myself fortunate in having such an opportunity, and straightway took -charge of my affairs, having been so instructed by my new master. I was -given of clothing more than ever I had before, and fed until I was no -longer hungry, during such time as I remained in Leyden. - -Then came the day when Master Marais sent me to Amsterdam with a letter -to Master Minuit's agent, and from that hour I was no more than any -parcel of goods, which the West India Company counted to send into the -New World. - -It troubled me little, however, that I was considered of no importance, -for in exactly that light did I look upon myself; yet I could not but -wonder, if so be I was servant to the Director of the new country in -America, that no one told me to do this or do that, but left me to my -own will, save that I was ordered to keep strictly the rules laid down -by the mistress of the house in which I lodged, until such time as the -_Sea Mew_ was ready to set sail. - -Then it was that one of the sailors came to my lodgings to summon me, -and I know not how it was he chanced to learn of my whereabouts, for I -had had speech concerning my affairs with no person in Amsterdam, -although it may well be that Master Marais had sent information -concerning what was to be done with me. - - - - -SAILING FOR THE NEW WORLD - - -It was in January, in the year of our Lord 1626, when the _Sea Mew_ set -forth on her long voyage, and during a certain number of days after we -left port, it seemed as if my end was near at hand. There are those who -make light of the sickness of the sea; but I am not one, for verily my -sufferings on board the _Sea Mew_ passed man's power of description. - -I saw Master Minuit when I first went on board; but it was as if a cat -had been looking at a king, for he remained in the after part of the -ship where were the people of quality, while I, only a servant, was -herded among the sailors, well up in the bow, where kicks and cuffs were -the rule, and blessings the exception. - -The life of a boy at sea, whether he be a servant in the employ of some -passenger, or belonging to the ship's company, is at its best truly -pitiable. No one has a good word for him; strive as he may, he is always -in some person's road, and the end of a wet rope is ever ready to the -hand of that person who, having lost his temper, would vent his spite -upon the most helpless being near at hand, which is the boy. - -[Illustration] - -I had counted on seeing much of the world during this voyage in the -_Sea Mew_, believing that we should visit strange lands, where I could -roam about feasting my eyes upon all manner of odd things; but none of -this came to pass. - -Twice during the voyage did the _Sea Mew_ cast anchor off some island, -where it would have given me no little pleasure to go on shore that I -might compare the land with the country I had known; but I lacked the -courage to ask permission of my master, who as yet had not spoken to me -since the ship left port, and no one, not even the friendliest among the -seamen, had enough of charity in his heart to say "Come." - - - - -A VIEW OF NEW NETHERLAND - - -Because of all this, the voyage, which took up nearly four months, was -one of discomfort, if not exactly of suffering, and when we came to -anchor off that place in America which had been named New Netherland, I -would have rejoiced even though it were the most desolate island, -because of my life on shipboard having, for a time at least, come to an -end. - -But before I tell you what I saw when I gazed upon this part of the New -World for the first time, to the end that you may the better understand -what I am talking about, let me say that toward the close of the year of -grace, 1624, a company of forty-five persons, men, women and children, -with all their home belongings, their tools for the farms, and one -hundred and three cows and sheep, had been sent out from Amsterdam in -three large ships and a small boat, called by the Dutch a yacht, -although in England it would have been spoken of as a pinnace. - -Some of these people, who agreed with the West India Company to build at -this place a trading post, had already set up such houses as would serve -to shelter them from the weather. - -[Illustration] - -And this is the picture which I saw on the fourth day of May, in the -year of our Lord, 1626, when I stood on the forward part of the _Sea -Mew_, gazing shoreward with hungry eyes, for the one desire I had was to -plant my feet once more upon the solid earth. - -We were lying where two grand rivers came together, forming a harbor in -which all the King's ships might ride in safety. In front of me was a -range of small hills, whereon grew noble trees that had just put on -their dress of green to mark the coming of the summer, and in the -valleys, betwixt the forest and the shore, were small dwellings or huts -built of the bark of trees, much as a child might make a house of twigs. - -Beyond these huts were settlements like unto nothing I had ever seen, -made up of buildings which looked not unlike gigantic logs that had been -split in the middle, with the cleft side lying on the ground. Some of -these half-round shelters were exceedingly long, others short, and all -had one or more doors close to the ground, but no windows that I could -see. - -They were made, as I afterward learned, of the bark of birch trees laid -over a framework of saplings, and fastened in place with the sinews of -animals, or with small wooden pegs. From more than one of them came -smoke, telling of fires and of cooking, but I saw no chimneys. - - - - -THE "BROWN MEN" OR SAVAGES - - -Here and there, either in this odd village, or near the bark huts of the -Dutch people, wandered colored men, not black like those negro slaves we -had on board the _Sea Mew_, but rather the color of a copper kettle -that has been somewhat used over a fire. For clothing, they wore nothing -more than a piece of skin tied around the waist, or leggings of hide. - -Their heads were bare, with the hair shaven from off a goodly portion, -leaving a long tuft directly on the top, which by means, as I afterward -learned, of animal fat, was made to stand upright like a horn. - -These were the savages, and I looked no longer at the dwellings built in -the shape of a half-moon, or at the loosely stacked strips of bark which -marked the home of some Dutchman who had come here at the bidding of the -West India Company, for all my thoughts were centered upon these brown -men, of whom I had heard as one hears a fairy tale, not believing in its -truth. - -Now although the land was goodly and fair to look upon, a veritable -garden of pleasure, to those who had come from a long voyage on the -angry waters, as had we of the _Sea Mew_, yet there came into my mind -the fear that these brown men who wandered here and there, giving little -heed to us who were so lately arrived, and who were the owners of this -New World, might come at some future time to say to themselves that it -were better the Dutch had never landed in their midst. If that day ever -did arrive, woe unto us whose skins were white! - -Little did I believe, even as I dreamed, that such would come to be the -truth; that the day was not far distant when these savages who made even -of their hair a seeming weapon, would come to thirst for the blood of us -who hoped to find fame or fortune, or both, in this New World of -America. - -At a mile or more from the point where we had anchored, we were told -there was a strip of marshy ground, stretching across from river to -river, and lying so low that when the tide was at its height, the -streams were united, making of this settlement an island, which the -Indians called Manhattan. - -There were trees in the forest before me enough to make all the masts -that could be used by the people of the world, and in such a wilderness -how abundant must be the game! In these huge rivers how great in number -the fish! - -I panted to leave the narrow space of ship; to go on shore where I could -wander among the trees and amid the flowers; where I could see these -strange, brown people, whose huts were to me much like hills thrown up -by ants; to come in contact with all these things which God had made, -and in so doing rejoice that I lived. - - - - -SUMMONED TO THE CABIN - - -Now it was as if Master Minuit, who had given no heed during all the -voyage as to whether I might be alive or dead, suddenly remembered that -somewhere on board the _Sea Mew_ he had a servant by the name of Peter -Hulbert, and straightway sent one of the serving men from the great -cabin to hunt me out. - -[Illustration] - -From the time of leaving Amsterdam until this moment, no one had shown -any desire to have speech with me, while all had acted as if believing I -was of no more use in this world than to cumber their path; thus it came -near to startling me when my name was called, so that I hung back, -hardly knowing if I was expected to go forward or aft, until one of the -seamen, hearing the serving man vainly shouting, asked me if that was -not my name which was being spoken so loudly. - -Whereupon I awoke to my senses, and went toward the stern to meet this -fellow, who was bawling at the full strength of his lungs, as if he -would make his tongue do the work of a trumpet, and by him was led into -the great cabin where stood my master, as if he had been awaiting my -coming. - -[Illustration] - -From that moment until this I have never sought for employment; there -has ever been something which I should do for others, or was in duty -bound to do for myself, until I am come to think that he who goes into a -new world to help in building there a city, much the same as fastens -himself into a treadmill in such a fashion that he may not contrive his -own escape. - -Now did I learn what it meant to act the part of body servant to such as -Master Minuit, and was not a little surprised at finding that he had -two others, one a man grown, and a second who was three or four years my -elder, both of whom took advantage of every opportunity to lord it over -me when the master was not within hearing. - - - - -TOYS FOR THE SAVAGES - - -During the long voyage I had tried time and again to picture to myself -what would be expected of me when I began to serve Master Minuit, and -fancied the duties would be to look after his belongings, perhaps his -weapons, or his clothing, or to serve him while he sat at meals. - -[Illustration] - -Therefore it was that my surprise was exceeding great when the first -task which he set me, was that of taking from certain huge boxes, which -had been brought into the great cabin, what appeared like toys for -children, rather than things such as grown men would set a value upon. - -A stout chest, fitted with handles, so that it might the more readily be -carried, had been placed nearby these big boxes, and, under Master -Minuit's direction, I took out these fanciful things, laying some upon -the floor, and stowing others in the chest. - -There were strings of beads such as young Dutch girls wear around their -necks; short lengths of bright red, or blue, or yellow cloth of wool; -ornaments for the ears, made of Dutch brass, and fashioned so rudely -that none save the poorest in the land would covet them; belts of -gaudily colored leather, and small axes and knives formed of iron so -badly worked that but little rough usage would serve to turn the edges. - -I cannot well name all the useless trinkets which I handled that day, -working as deftly as I might, to the end that my new master should lay -no blame upon me for clumsiness; but all the goods were of so little -value that, poor though I was, there came into my heart no desire to -possess them. - -[Illustration] - -As I worked, and while the other two servants were busily engaged making -into packages the belongings of my master, that they might the more -readily be carried on shore, I could not fail of hearing, even though -making no effort to play the part of eavesdropper, the conversation -which was going on between Master Minuit and those Dutch gentlemen who -had come out with him to build up this new land. - - - - -CLAIM OF THE WEST INDIA COMPANY - - -And what I thus heard, without being minded to play the listener, was -that among the orders given by the West India Company, was one to the -effect that before Master Minuit should do anything toward taking upon -himself the governing of the country, the land of Manhattan Island was -to be bought of the brown men, and these useless trinkets were to serve -in the stead of purchase money. - -To the better understanding of this order, let me go back in the tale to -where I have said that the West India Company claimed to own the land -which was called New Netherland. Their reasons for making such claim -were that the Dutch government had, many years before, sent out the ship -_Half Moon_, commanded by an Englishman named Henry Hudson, who believed -himself to be the first white man that ever saw these rivers; and -afterward that famous Dutch seaman, Adrian Block, had followed Master -Hudson, stopping at this same island of Manhattan. Therefore it was, -because of their vessels being supposed to have come to this place -first, that the people of Holland claimed the land as their own. - -As I came to know later, however, a certain sailor from Florence had -been sent to America by the French king, near ninety years before Master -Hudson's coming, and, on landing nearabout where we then were, claimed -all the country in the name of France. - -Perhaps the West India Company knew somewhat of this, and, fearing the -French king might set up ownership to the island of Manhattan, had -decided to buy it of theirs, first because of having been discovered by -them, and again because of being bought in fair trade. - -All this which I have just told you came to me afterward, when I knew -more of the great world and of the manner in which the nations of the -earth struggled one against another to increase their possessions. - - - - -MAKING READY FOR TRADE - - -At the time, however, there was no thought in my mind save that if -Master Minuit should buy this island of Manhattan with all the trumpery -goods he had in the great cabin, then would he be paying a price far too -small for even the least portion of it. - -You can well fancy that I did not neglect my work while thus looking -with contempt upon the goods before me. My duty was to make quick -despatch of the task set me, and at the same time take good heed that it -was done in such a manner as to win the approval, if not the praise, of -Master Minuit. - -Many a long hour did I spend putting the childish things into the chest, -and in taking them out and exchanging for others, when those in company -with my master believed we were gathering too much of value, if indeed -there could be value to such goods. When it was done, I had the idea -that Master Minuit was pleased with me, for he said that from then on I -was to hold myself close to his person, going where he went, and -stopping where he stopped. - -[Illustration] - -I make but a poor attempt at telling the tale, otherwise I would have -said that when we were first come to anchor, some of those people who -had been sent over by the West India Company in advance of our ship, -came on board the _Sea Mew_ to speak with my master; and, as each in -turn was done with his business, or with his pleasure, as the case might -be, orders were given him that the savages be told they were to meet -Master Minuit on the shore nearby where we were then lying at anchor, to -the end that he might have speech with them. - -It puzzled me not a little to understand how he could have speech with -the brown men, when they did not speak in the same tongue as did he; but -I had enough of wit to understand that it did not concern me. Master -Minuit most like had considered well the matter. - - - - -HANS BRAUN AND KRYN GILDERSLEEVE - - -[Illustration] - -When I was done with my task, instead of going into the forward part of -the ship where I had lived from the time we left Amsterdam, my master -gave orders that I should remain nearby where were his own quarters, and -sent me with his other servants, of whom I have already told you -somewhat. - -The elder, who might have been thirty years of age, was named Hans -Braun. He was as sour-visaged, square-jawed, thick-headed a Dutchman as -ever stepped foot in Holland; one who knew not the meaning of the word -friendship, and cared for his own comfort and his own pleasure more than -he did for the master he served, or for anything whatsoever. - -When I came to have a good look at him, as he beckoned me to follow to -that portion of the ship where he and his mate found lodgings, I said to -myself that there at least was one in this New World who would never -lend a helping hand, and would not hesitate to do a wrong if thereby he -could compass his own ends. - -The other servant was Kryn Gildersleeve, who, mayhap, was three or four -years my elder; a dull, heavy lad, who did not give promise of being a -cheerful comrade, and yet I would have put faith in him under the same -conditions that I would have suspected Hans of working me harm. - -If I have been overly careful in speaking of these two fellow servants, -it is because of our being at a later day so placed that they could do -me much of evil, or of good. - -I had rather an hundred times over have gone into my meaner lodgings in -the forward part of the ship, than spend the night in what were most -comfortable quarters, with such as Hans, and yet it was not for me to -say whether I would come here or go there, after the command had been -given. Before another day was very old, however, I understood that, -without having spoken a wrong word or done anything against him -whatsoever, Hans Braun would never be my friend. - - - - -THE GATHERING OF THE SAVAGES - - -It seemed, as I afterward learned, that Master Minuit had given orders -for me to follow him on shore, while the other two were to remain aboard -the ship, and this it was, most like, which displeased Hans. - -However that may be, it has nothing to do with my tale, and perhaps I am -giving overly many words to it; yet would I have you know how I, the -youngest body servant of Master Minuit, Director of the West India -Company's lands in America, came to see so much of that which was, in -fact, important business, such as a lad would not be likely to have any -part in. - -[Illustration] - -We were yet on board the _Sea Mew_, when I, who was standing by the rail -on the quarter-deck, where I could hear the slightest summons from my -master, saw the brown men gathering on shore and verily it was a sight -to cause wonder. - -These brown men, with their hair standing upright on the middle of their -heads, and naked to the waist, but wearing leggings fringed with strips -of hide, and queer, soft shoes ornamented with colored quills of the -porcupine, which I afterwards learned were called moccasins, seated -themselves on the sand of the shore, gazing out toward the _Sea Mew_. - -Below, in the great cabin, I could see that my master and his companions -were arraying themselves as if about to set out for an audience with the -king, and why this should be I failed to understand, save that they -counted to surprise the savages by their bravery of attire. - -Master Minuit wore a long coat of blue cloth, which was fastened around -his waist with a silken sash, and black velvet breeches, gathered in at -the knee with a knot of blue ribbon, while his low shoes, ornamented -with huge silver buckles, set off, as it seemed to me, the shiny -blackness of his silken hose. - -[Illustration] - -He had on a broad-brimmed hat of felt, in which was a plume of blue, and -over his shoulder was a blue sash, which, coming to a point under the -left arm, gave a hanging for his sword. - -The gentlemen with him were decked out in no less brave apparel, and I -said to myself that if the savages of Manhattan Island gave heed to gay -adorning then they were like to be pleased on this day. - - - - -GOING ASHORE - - -I was the one sent ashore in charge of the chest of trinkets, and that I -was thus given a position of trust did not serve to sweeten the sour -look on Hans' face, for he acted much as if believing he was the only -one of Master Minuit's following who could be depended upon for any -service of note. - -It is impossible for me to say in such words as would be understood, how -delighted I was to be on dry land once more. The scent of the flowers, -the odors that came from the forest, and the songs of the birds, so -filled me with delight that it was indeed a difficult matter to act as -if I still held possession of my wits. Perhaps, if the savages had not -been seated nearby, noting every movement made by those concerned in the -care of the chest, I should not have succeeded so well. - -Before these half-dressed, brown men, who watched intently, with never -the ghost of a smile or show of interest on their faces, one could not -but act in a dignified manner, and I held myself as if I, not Peter -Minuit, were the Director of New Netherland come to take possession of -my office. - -Save for long reeds, at one end of which was a small stone vessel, which -I afterward learned was a contrivance used for burning that Indian weed, -tobacco, the savages had nothing in their hands. It seemed to me that it -would have been only natural had they brought with them some of their -weapons, and I was disappointed because of their not having done so, for -my curiosity was great regarding what sort of bloodletting instruments -were in use among them. - -[Illustration] - -During a full hour I sat on the chest, while two of the seamen loitered -near at hand to make certain the brown men did not attempt to find out -what we had brought ashore, and then came my master, followed by all the -gentlemen of the _Sea Mew_. - -Every one was dressed in his bravest garments, and on stepping out of -the small boat on the sand, all gave particular respect to my master, as -if to show the savages that he was the man who had been sent to rule -over this country of New Netherland. - -[Illustration] - -This company of gentlemen walked gravely in procession to where the -chest was standing, giving no heed to the savages until they were -gathered around the useless trinkets, and then they bowed as if each -brown man before them were a king. - - - - -BUYING THE ISLAND OF MANHATTAN - - -I had again been puzzling my brain to figure out how any trading of land -could be carried on, since it was not reasonable to suppose the savages -had knowledge of the Dutch tongue, or that Master Minuit understood such -words as the brown men spoke. - -It was all made plain, however, when one of the white men who had come -from Amsterdam the year before, stepped forward, bending low before my -master as he began making odd sounds to the Indians, which must have -been words of some kind, since they answered him in the same manner, -after which the whole crowd of top-knotted, half-naked savages rose to -their feet. - -Then our Dutchman would repeat the Indian words in English to Master -Minuit, though no one could say whether he repeated exactly that which -the savages had told him, and thus a full hour was spent in telling of -the greatness of Holland, the good intent of the West India Company -toward the brown people, and the advantage it would be to have white men -in the land. - -Master Minuit was not the only one who could deal out soft words, for -the chief savage of the company was quite his match in such business, -and made it appear as if this island of Manhattan were the one place in -all the great world, while at the same time he claimed that the -Manhattan Indians were the only real men ever born. - -Finally Master Minuit got at the kernel of the nut by telling the -savages that he was ready to buy, and to pay a good price for their -island, at the same time letting it be understood that they need not -move away so long as it was their desire to be neighbors and friends -with the white men, who would pay all kinds of prices for furs, or -whatsoever they had to sell. - -This was the time when the chest was opened, and I looked to see the -brown men walk away angrily, believing Master Minuit was making fools of -them when he offered such trumpery stuff for good, solid land; but much -to my surprise the savages hung over the beads and cloth as if they were -worth their weight in gold. - -[Illustration] - -Had I owned the island, and Master Minuit was trying to buy it from me -for what he had in the chest, I would not have given him as much of the -soil as he stood on, for a shipload of the stuff; but these savages -seemed to think they were getting great wealth in exchange for the land, -and he who was acting as mouthpiece had need to keep his tongue wagging -lively in order to repeat all that was said. - -By noon the bargain had been made; the savages kept a tight grip on all -they had received, even when they were invited on board the _Sea Mew_, -where writings of the trade were to be made, and I had hard work not to -laugh outright when I saw how gingerly they stepped into our staunch -longboat, as if fearing it would overset. - - - - -BOATS USED BY THE SAVAGES - - -This fear of so seaworthy a craft as ours, was all the more comical -after I had seen such boats as the savages themselves used, and you may -believe that I am stretching the truth to the point of breaking it, when -I say that they put off in toy vessels that were little better than -eggshells. - -What is more, they showed no fear in so doing even when the waves ran -high, and it seemed as if no human power could prevent the frail craft -from being swamped. - -These canoes, as the savages called them, were given shape by thin -splints of wood, bent something after the fashion of a bow, with the -forward and after ends, although one looked the same shape as the other, -rising high above the midship portion. They were covered with bark from -the birch tree, sewn together with sinews of deer, or of such like -animals, and smeared plentifully with balsam from the pine trees. Where -in another craft would have been the rail, were strips of wood not -thicker than my smallest finger, but of such toughness as to give shape -to the boat. - -I could easily, and have done so many times since, toss the largest of -these canoes on my shoulder and carry it without feeling that I was -burdened. Yet four or five of the brown men would get inside one of -these drowning machines, as Kryn called them, kneeling in the bottom, -since there was no chance to sit squarely down, and dart over the waves -with greater speed than our crew could row the longboat. - -[Illustration] - - - - -WANDERING OVER THE ISLAND - - -When Master Minuit was about to go on board the _Sea Mew_ with the -savages whose land he had just bought, he graciously gave me permit to -wander at will over the island, with the understanding, however, that I -was to be on the shore, ready to come aboard ship, before nightfall. - -It can well be understood that I took advantage of the permission -without delay, and before I had finished with my roaming, I came to -believe that my master had not driven as hard a bargain as at first -sight appeared. - -In England, or in Holland, the land would not have been looked upon as -of much value to a farmer. There were some spots where a kind of wheat -was growing, but these were few and far between. A goodly portion of the -upper part was swampy, and beyond that were ledges, covered with -creeping vines, over which one could not make his way even if he felt so -disposed. - -One of the Dutchmen who had come over before we did, told me that he did -not dare let his cows or sheep wander beyond the marshes, because of the -forest's being filled with bears, wolves, and other ravening creatures -which would make speedy end of them. - -[Illustration] - -When I asked as to the outlook for a farmer, he turned up his thick -nose, saying that save for the fact of the land being rich, never -having been planted, he could not raise enough to keep his family and -his cattle from starving. - -Then it was he told me that the West India Company did not give great -heed to what might be grown in the earth, but counted on building here a -town in order that they might make much money by buying furs of the -savages. - -It seemed that there were animals in the forest nearabout, the skins of -which were valuable in many of the other countries of the world, and it -was Master Minuit's business, if he would please those who had made him -Director of New Netherland, to exchange toys and beads for furs. - -Those white men who had been induced to come over from Holland by -promises of being well paid for their labor, were to turn all their -attention to getting lumber out of the forests, doing no more in the way -of farming than would provide them, as nearly as might be, with food. - - - - -THE HOMES OF THE SAVAGES - - -This same Dutchman, seeing that the Indian houses excited my curiosity, -offered to go with me inside one, and, on my agreeing eagerly, he led -the way into the first building on our path, with no thought of asking -permission, much as if entering his own dwelling. - -It surprised me to see what flimsy affairs they were, and yet it was -said that the savages lived in them during the winter when there is much -snow on the ground. I have already told you that instead of having a -roof laid on upright sides, the top was rounded like a huge log cleft in -halves, and once inside I understood why they were built in such -fashion. - -[Illustration] - -The timbers were nothing more than small, young trees, the thicker ends -of which were thrust into the ground, and the tops bent over until the -whole formed an arch. On the outside of this was bark taken from the -birch tree, sewed or pegged in place, and in the center of the floor, -which was simply the bare earth beaten down hard, a fire could be built, -the smoke finding its way out through a hole in the roof. - -Why such frail buildings did not take fire from sparks, I could not -understand, for it would have needed but a tiny bit of live coal to set -the whole thing in a blaze. - -There were no people in this house which we entered, and therefore it -was that I could look about me more closely than would otherwise have -been the case. I saw pots and kettles fashioned of what looked to be -gourds, or baked clay; sharpened stones lashed to wooden handles, to be -used, most like, as axes, and shells with an edge so sharp that one -might have whittled a heavy stick into shavings, which shells, so the -Dutchman told me, served the savages as knives. - -[Illustration] - -There were many wooden bowls, which must have been formed by these same -knives of shell, and one of them, half filled with a greasy looking -mixture, was yet standing upon the embers, as if its contents had been -heated in that vessel of wood over the fire. - -The beds were not uninviting, save that they were far from being -cleanly, and gave forth a disagreeable odor, for they were made of furs -piled high upon a coarse kind of straw. - - - - -MASTER MINUIT'S HOME - - -Then it was that this very friendly Dutchman showed me the house in -which Master Minuit was to live, until such time as a building, made -after the manner of those in Holland, could be set up. - -It was no more than a log hut, large, to be sure, but yet formed of the -trunks of trees laid one on top of the other, with the ends notched so -that they would lock together, as it were, and the floor was the same as -I had seen in the house of the savage, simply earth beaten hard until it -was nearly smooth. - -[Illustration] - -The idea of bringing his fine garments into such a place, or even of -wearing them where were none save the Indians to see his bravery of -apparel, caused me to smile; but I soon came to know that my master had -no intention of spending very many days within this rough dwelling of -logs. - -The _Sea Mew_ was moored stem and stern, as if for a long stay, and -Master Minuit and the other gentlemen appeared to have no idea of going -on shore to live as did the savages. - -It is not needed for me to say that I also remained aboard the ship, -although it would have pleased me far better to have taken my chances -with the people in the huts, for these Dutchmen who had come in advance -of us were really pleasant fellows, who did not think it beneath their -dignity to answer such questions as a lad like me, who saw so much that -was curious everywhere around, was aching to ask. - - - - -BEGINNING THE WORK - - -There was little chance for me to gratify my curiosity in these first -days after we were come to America, for Master Minuit counted on having -much work done during the summer, in order that we might be prepared for -the frosts of winter, and I had no idle time for making acquaintance -with this New World. - -My master put the interests of the West India Company even before the -well-being of the people who were to make a new town, and his first act, -after buying the island of Manhattan for much the same as no price at -all, was to begin the gathering of furs. - -The people who had come ahead of us were cutting timber in the forest, -and dragging, or rafting, it down to the point where it would be in good -position to be taken on board the first ship that was to be loaded, and -with such tasks Master Minuit did not interfere. - -The gentlemen who had come with him were to go, each in a different -direction, up the rivers in search of savages who would exchange -valuable furs for trumpery toys, and it was my duty to assort these -goods, under the direction of my master, as a matter of course, into -various lots to the end that each of the traders would have some portion -of every kind. - -When this had been done, and I was kept at the task during the greater -part of two days, each assortment was packed into a chest like unto the -one we had taken ashore when the island was purchased of the savages. - -To Hans and Kryn was given the duty of putting these goods into the -boats; packing up food for the many crews, and doing the heavy work -generally, which was not to the liking of the sour-faced servant, who -would have been better pleased could he have remained snug in the great -cabin, as did I. - - - - -A STRANGE KIND OF CRAFT - - -Five traders at length set out, each in a boat with four Dutch sailors, -and one of the brown men to show him the way, and before the last had -departed I saw a craft, made by the savages, which was by no means as -light and fanciful as were the canoes of the birch-tree bark. - -The boat had been fashioned out of a huge log, and although there seemed -to be great danger she would overset if the cargo were suddenly shifted -to one side, she was of sufficient size to carry a dozen men with twice -as much of goods as we put on board of her. - -I was puzzled to know how these brown men, who had not tools of iron, -could build such a vessel, which would have cost the labor of two -Dutchmen, with every convenience for working, during at least ten days. -Later, however, when I had more time for roaming around on the shore, I -learned in what manner the task had been performed, and then was I -filled with wonder because of the patience and skill of these savages -who were so childish as to be pleased with toys. - -When a wooden boat, or "dugout," such as I have just spoken of was to be -built, the brown men spent much time searching for a tree of the proper -kind and size, and, having found it, set about cutting with both fire -and sharpened shells. - -A fire was built entirely around the tree, but the flames were prevented -from rising very high by being deadened with wet moss or leaves, thus -causing them to eat directly into the trunk. When the surface of the -wood had been charred to a certain extent, the Indians scraped it away -with their knives of shell, and this they continued to do, burning and -scraping until finally the huge tree would fall to the ground. - -[Illustration] - -Then was measured off the length of the boat they wanted to make, and -the same kind of work was done until they had cut the trunk again, -leaving a log fifteen, twenty, or even twenty-five feet long, as the -builders desired. Next this log was hollowed out by fire and scraping, -until only the shell of the tree was left, so you can have some idea of -the amount of work that was done by such rude methods. - -The ends were fashioned much after the shape of the canoes, save that -neither the stern nor the bow rose above the midship portion; thwarts, -or seats, were fitted in as neatly as one of our workmen could do it -with the proper tools, and when finished, the craft would carry quite as -large a cargo as one of our longboats. - -Our Dutch seamen looked upon these boats with wonder, questioning if -they would not be swamped in a heavy sea; but those of our people who -had lived here nearly a year, declared that these dug-outs would swim -where many a better built craft would go to the bottom. - - - - -BUILDING A FORT - - -Within an hour after the last of the traders had set off, Master Minuit -had his workmen busy on a fort, to be built an hundred yards or more -from the place where we first landed. - -Although these brown men appeared so very friendly, it was not in his -mind to give them any chance to work mischief, and, therefore, some -place where our people could defend themselves against an enemy, was -needed. - -All the Dutchmen who had been hewing timber were called upon to take -part in the work, and it went on with amazing rapidity, for Master -Minuit was not one who gave those in his employ much chance to suck -their fingers. - -The fort was made in the form of a triangle, with bastions, or -projections, at each corner, so that while within them the defenders -could have a view of each side-wall. Around the entire building, say at -a distance of twenty feet, was a palisade, or fence, of cedar logs -planted upright in the earth, and fastened together with heavy timbers -at the top. - -A more solid fortification of wood I have never yet seen, nor have I -known of a like defence to have been made in so short a time. - - - - -IN CHARGE OF THE GOODS - - -Before the fort was finished, two of the gentlemen traders came back, -their chests emptied of beads, cloth, and trinkets, but the boats piled -high with furs of all kinds, and I heard Master Minuit say that one such -cargo was worth more than all the grain that could be raised in two -years, by all the white men on the island. - -The log house was taken for a storeroom, and Hans set at work making a -list of the furs, which was anything rather than a pleasant task, for -these skins were none of the sweetest or most cleanly, and the Dutchman -both looked and smelled very disagreeably. - -[Illustration] - -While Hans was sweating over the furs in the log house, I stayed in the -great cabin of the _Sea Mew_, refilling the chests with goods, and -before the task was finished, Master Minuit told me that I was to have -charge of all the things brought for trade with the savages. - -In other words, I was no longer to be body servant, but a real -storekeeper, which was more of a jump in the world than I had even hoped -to make for many a long year to come. - -The palisade of the fort was not yet wholly done, when a dozen or more -of the men were set about building inside the fortification a log -house, where the goods were to be kept and where I was to find lodgings. - -Kryn Gildersleeve, like the honest lad he was, gave me joy because of my -thus having become, as it were, a real member of the Company; but Hans -was angry, believing if any of the servants were to be promoted, it -should have been himself, and I am told that he declared I would not -long be allowed to enjoy my high station. - -By the time the palisade had been built my house was finished, and all -the goods brought from the _Sea Mew_, which gave me much of work to do, -because my orders were to unpack and store the different articles where -I could bring them out at a moment's notice. - -You must not understand that Master Minuit had entrusted to me the -trading. That portion of the work was for himself and the gentlemen who -had come with him; but I was in charge of the goods, as Hans was keeper -of the furs, while Kryn alone waited upon the master as body servant. - -When any of the savages came in from the village close by, or from far -away, to bargain for our toys, one of the gentlemen looked after him, -and I brought this thing or carried that according to orders, for the -Indians were not allowed to come inside the log house lest they might -make mischief. After the trading was at an end, Hans would be summoned -to carry away the furs. - -[Illustration] - -If none of the other gentlemen were near at hand, it was my duty to -summon Master Minuit, when any of the brown men came to the fort with -such a burden that I could understand he was eager to buy of our goods. - - - - -THE VALUE OF WAMPUM - - -Because of thus being employed, I very soon saw that which served the -savages as money, and queer stuff it was, being neither more nor less -than bits of shell. - -The brown men called the stuff wampum, and because of having such poor -tools it must be an enormous amount of work to make it. As nearly as I -could learn, there were certain big shells which washed up on the shores -here after a storm, and only some part of the inside of these, and a -portion of the mussel shells, were used. - -From the big shells they made a smooth white bead, grinding the shell -down against a rock until it was perfectly smooth, and then boring a -hole through it. The beads of wampum made from the mussel shells were in -shape much like a straw, and less than half an inch in length. - -These beads the Indians strung on the dried sinews of wild animals, from -a half a yard to four feet in length, when, as I have already told you, -they were used as money. - -But wampum is even more than that among the savages. When these strings -are fastened to the width of five or six inches into a belt, they are -given to messengers to take to another tribe, much as kings of old used -to give their seal rings as a sort of letter of recommendation. - -[Illustration: The great Wampum Belt of the Onondagas.] - -The wampum belts were sent in token of peace after a war, or as a -present from one ruler to another, and, as can be seen, this wampum was -even of more value to the savages than gold is to white men. - -One would think that when they got our beads in exchange for their furs, -they would have strung them with those which had been cut from shells, -and yet they did nothing of the kind, for in their eyes one of those -tiny, white balls, which had a hole through the middle, was of more -value than a cupful of Master Minuit's best. - -I do not know how it was figured out; but you must know that in Holland -they have a coin called a stuyver, which is worth in English money near -to two pennies. Our people here allowed, in trading with the Indians, -that four beads of wampum were equal to one stuyver, or two pennies, and -a single strand six feet long, was equal to four guilders, or, roughly -speaking, about eight shillings. - -There is no need for me to say that our people did not buy wampum of the -Indians; but in the course of the bargaining it passed back and forth, -because of being the only coins the brown men had, and therefore I -suppose it was, that Master Minuit believed it necessary to put some -fixed price upon it. - - - - -BUILDINGS OF STONE - - -After the fort and the storehouse had been finished, the Dutch laborers -were set about cutting out stone from the ledges of which I have spoken, -to be used in the place of bricks. From this rock Master Minuit decided -that a more secure warehouse for the company's goods should be made, -and, also, a dozen or more of the men were set about building a mill to -be worked by horse-power, so that it might be possible to grind the -grain. - -[Illustration] - -This horse-mill also was to be built of stone, with a large loft that -would be used as a church. - -There had been no ministers brought over when we came in the _Sea Mew_; -but in place of them were two zeikentroosters, which is a Dutch word for -"Consolers of the Sick;" but what they might be called in plain English -I know not. It appeared to me that the zeikentroosters in Holland were -much the same as deacons in England, though as to this I may be wrong. - -At all events, there were two of them came in our ship, and, until the -first minister arrived, they held regular meetings out of doors while -the mill was being built, and afterward in the loft. - - - - -THE GOVERNMENT - - -While the people were working on the mill, the fort, and the storehouse, -or at the quarry, Master Minuit, busy man though he was, found time to -set up a regular government in this town of huts which he called New -Amsterdam, himself being at the head of it with no one to say him nay, -and a Council of five chosen by the West India Company from among the -white people. - -There was also a secretary for this Council, and a Dutch official, which -in Holland is called schout-fiscal, which means about all of the offices -that could be held in an ordinary village, for he was sheriff, -constable, collector of customs, tithing-man, and almost anything else -you chose to call him. - -The secretary and the schout-fiscal were also appointed by the Company -in Amsterdam, and every act of the Council, as well as the rules and -regulations laid down by Master Minuit, were all to be approved by the -gentlemen in Holland before our people would be bound by them. Thus it -can be seen that while one might suppose the citizens of New Amsterdam -made their own laws, it was in fact the West India Company which had -full direction of affairs. - -After a time, when I had been so far entrusted with the business of the -settlement as to understand how it was conducted, I came to realize that -all which was done by us of New Amsterdam was for the profit of the -Company, rather than for the benefit of the people, and this finally -came to be one of the causes which worked for the downfall of Dutch -power in the New World. - - - - -A PROSPEROUS TOWN - - -Before I had been many days in charge of the Company's goods we began to -drive a flourishing trade, for all those gentlemen who had set off with -trinkets to buy furs, urged the brown men to go down to New Amsterdam -and see what the white people were doing on the island they had bought -at so generous a price. - -And you can well fancy that these Indians were not slow in accepting the -invitation. It must have been to them much like visiting a museum, or a -menagerie, to come into our town and see another race of people working -in a manner entirely different from their methods, and using tools -which afforded a great saving of labor, the like of which they had never -heard about. - -[Illustration] - -Before two weeks were passed, there was never a day that from three to -twenty canoes were not hauled up on the shore of the point, and these -brown people were gathered around the fort, many naked, excepting for -queer breeches and belt; others wearing a kind of cloak made of furs, -and now and then one who had a mantle of some sort of feather work, but -all burdened with bales of furs, deer meat, wild turkeys, ducks or -anything which it seemed to them likely would be bought by these Dutch -traders, who had of toys such a store. - -I was kept busy from morning until night, trotting in and out of the -house with this article or that, as whosoever was conducting the -business commanded, and I dare venture to say that Hans was having a -sorry time indeed, for the weather had grown warm, and his quarters in -the log hut, with those ill-smelling pelts, must have been anything -rather than pleasant. - -The first event of great importance to us of New Amsterdam, was the -loading of a ship to be sent home, and I am minded to tell you exactly -how the cargo was made up, so that you may see whether the West India -Company's servants had idled away any of their time. - -There were 7,246 beaver skins, 1,781-1/2 otter skins, 675 poorer otter -skins, 48 mink skins, 33 poorer mink skins, 36 wild cat skins, and 34 -rat skins. The rest of the lading was made up of oak and hickory timber, -while the whole of it was valued by Master Minuit at 45,000 guilders, -and it is for you to find out how much that would be in the money of -your own country. - -[Illustration] - -Before this ship sailed we had gathered our first harvest, which was -made up of wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, beans and flax, and in -such quantity that, unless there should be large additions to our -numbers, we had need to feel no anxiety regarding the winter's store of -food. - -I am telling you this that you may understand how industrious our -Dutchmen were, to raise so much on land that at first sight one would -have said was in no way suited for planting. - -Now it was that our people began to use stone in the building of houses, -and the first looked so comfortable that others were eager to have -dwellings like it. The consequence was, that during this first fall -after our arrival, there were no less than twelve stone dwellings in -progress, while Master Minuit already had such a home as was a credit to -any town which had been no longer begun than New Amsterdam. - - - - -QUARRELSOME SLAVES - - -It was during this year of our Lord, 1626, when the venture of making a -village in the New World was well-nigh shown to be a success, that the -first serious crime was committed, and one which cost, before many years -had passed, much of white blood. - -Among the laborers who had been brought over in the _Sea Mew_, were nine -negro slaves, the West India Company having sent them in the belief that -because of their skins' being black they might do much toward gaining -favor with the brown men. - -In Holland these fellows had shown themselves to be fairly good -servants, although not greatly given to industry; but no sooner were -they landed in the New World than they became indolent and ill-tempered, -seeming to believe that because of this country's being inhabited by -people whose skins were dark, they were entitled to a full share of -everything, with no longer the need to look upon any man as master. - -[Illustration] - -The result of it all was that the negroes became troublesome, ready to -quarrel with any man who crossed their path, and unwilling to do so much -of labor as would have provided them with food to eat. - -They swaggered here and there around the village, taking good care, -however, not to cross Master Minuit's path, else would he have pulled -them up with a round turn. At night, when the head men of the village -were in their dwellings, these black fellows did not hesitate to quarrel -with, or even illtreat, the hard working Dutchmen who had never a harsh -word for any one. - -Now I have heard it said later that Master Minuit was at fault because -of his not giving to those negroes, when they first showed signs of -being unruly, such a punishment as would never have been forgotten; but -it must be borne in mind that my master was an exceeding busy man, -having the care of everything whatsoever on his shoulders, from the -cutting of stone to the dealings with the West India Company. - -Then again, there is a question in my mind as to whether he knew how -overbearing they were growing, for our people, realizing that his cares -were many, suffered much in the way of small injuries rather than -complain to him. - -However this may be, I shall always hold that the behavior of these -negroes was no affair of Master Minuit. Until some of the people had -called his attention to it, matters went on as they began, with the -black men growing more and more unruly. - - - - -A BRUTAL MURDER - - -Finally, a certain Indian, having with him a small boy, came down to -trade twenty-two beaver skins for red cloth. Because of none of the -gentlemen traders being near at hand when he arrived, I was forced to -ask him to wait until nearly nightfall, and by the time he had finished -his bargaining, darkness was come. - -Now it was usual for these brown men, who lived at a distance, to -shelter themselves for the night nearabout New Amsterdam in the -dwellings of the Manhattan Indians; therefore no one gave heed to the -fact that these two visitors went out from the fort at quite a late hour -in the evening. - -Exactly what happened, no one, excepting those concerned directly in it, -could say; but certain it is that between the fort and the settlement of -the Manhattan Indians, within an hour from the time I saw them last, -this Indian and the boy were set upon by four negroes, who beat the man -so brutally while robbing him of the goods he had just purchased, that -he died before mid-night. - -The boy escaped, as we learned later, so terrified that he dared not -even trust himself among the Manhattan Indians, but hid in a swamp -during a certain time, after which he rejoined his people. - -The negroes were brought before the council; but only one was proven -guilty, owing to lack of evidence, and this fellow was hanged off-hand, -while the others, although declared innocent of the murder, were soundly -flogged as a warning to others of their kind. - -Not until several years had passed, did the Dutchmen hear further -concerning this most brutal murder, and then it was that the boy, whose -father, or uncle, had been killed, aroused the people of his tribe to -wreak vengeance upon the white men, thus aiding and bringing about a -most terrible Indian war, although we of New Amsterdam did not suffer -through it as did others who, coming to this New World years afterward, -were wholly innocent of doing any wrong to the brown men. - -However, save that the trouble which resulted in much bloodshed, began -there, the war has but little to do with New Amsterdam, and I shall say -no more regarding it at present. - - - - -THE VILLAGE CALLED PLYMOUTH - - -I had thought that, having been given the office of storekeeper, I was -like to remain all my days in the town, without having the privilege of -going even on a trading ship, and yet matters so came about that I -became a great traveler, so far as seeing the New World was concerned. - -Shortly after we were come to New Netherland, Master Minuit heard from -the savages that at a place called Plymouth, many miles from us, a -company of Englishmen had made for themselves a village which was fair -to look upon, and growing exceeding fast. - -Now you may suppose that I had not been dumb during this time, when I -was showing goods to the savages while our gentlemen made the bargains, -but so I must have been had I not learned a word now and then of their -speech, until, by using many signs in addition, I could carry on quite a -conversation with such of the brown men as would stoop to make talk to a -boy. - -[Illustration] - -Therefore it was I understood Indian words far better than I could speak -them, and when these stories were told concerning a company of English -people at this new village of Plymouth, my heart went out to them, for -was I not an English boy, and these my countrymen? - -I had known, of course, that those of my race who once lived in Leyden, -came to this New World; but that we might be anywhere near them never -entered my head, until the savages told us of Plymouth, and then I said -to myself that there could be no greater pleasure than to see these -people who had been friendly with my father and mother. - - - - -I GO ON A VOYAGE - - -I also knew, because of hearing him speak of it to some of the gentlemen -traders in my presence, that Master Minuit had sent a letter to the -governor of Plymouth by one of the Indians, and a reply had come back; -but more than that I heard nothing until the Secretary told me, one -certain morning, that I was to make a sea voyage with him. - -It was a direct command from Master Minuit, and I made ready without -asking to what land we should go, because it was for me to obey, not to -question; but I had a great hope that Hans Braun might not be put into -the storehouse in my place, fearing lest he would not willingly give up -the position, after learning how much more pleasing it was to handle the -toys than the ill-smelling furs. - -"We are to journey as far as Plymouth, where is a village in which -English people live," the Secretary, whose name was that of a Frenchman -and bothered my tongue, said to me when I went on board the pinnace -Nassau, which had been made ready for the voyage. - -One might have knocked me down with a breath, so astounded and overjoyed -was I at the possibility of seeing my father's friends, and it was a -full five minutes before I could set down an account of the goods that -were being brought on board, for Master Minuit counted on sending a -present to the governor of Plymouth, of no less value than a chest of -sugar, near to an hundred strings of wampum, and three rolls of best -cloth, each of a different color. - -[Illustration] - -If it had been in my power to provide the wind for the voyage, it could -not have been more favorable, and the _Nassau_ sent up a jet of spray -from her bow, as we sailed down the river on the eastern side of New -Amsterdam till we were come to what is called Long Island Sound, which -is a vast inland sea. - -Then we crossed the bay which is called Narragansett, because of the -Indians of that tribe living along the shores, and afterward were come -to a trading post belonging to the people of Plymouth. - - - - -A LUKEWARM WELCOME - - -It was as if my heart came into my mouth when I saw these English -people, and I made no doubt they would welcome me warmly on knowing that -my father was of the same religious faith; but they gave little heed to -my words, and because of being received so coldly, I felt shame that I -had rejoiced when the Secretary told me where our voyage was to come to -an end. - -However, we were not then at Plymouth, but nearly twenty miles away. -That the Englishmen might have warning of our coming, word was sent -ahead by one of the savages who had journeyed with us, that a messenger -from the West India Company wished to visit Plymouth, and would do so if -the governor of the town would send a boat to a point four or five miles -from where we then were. - -All this was done as the Secretary wished, and we walked across a neck -of land, some of the people from the trading post carrying the chests of -gifts, until coming to where a boat was in waiting. - -Before another night had come we were in Plymouth; but it was to me as -if I had met entire strangers, for none gave me the hearty welcome I -had been hungering for, although my story was not doubted. I suppose -there were too many like me in this wide world, and those who were -battling against the wilderness and the savages, as were these people, -could give but little heed to a lad who had no standing among men. - -[Illustration] - -I was lodged in the fort, where were women who did by me as best they -might; but my heart was sore because of disappointment. - - - - -TWO DAYS IN PLYMOUTH - - -The Secretary was received into the house of the governor, Master -Bradford, and I neither saw nor heard from him, save when he sent me -word next morning, which was the Sabbath, that he expected I would show -myself at the meeting-house. - -[Illustration] - -All this would I have done even though he had not been so thoughtful, -for I was burning to hear the preachers my father had known: but the -sermon was overly long; I was tired from the journey of the day before, -and, without meaning so much disrespect to the minister, I fell asleep, -nor did I awaken until one of the tithing-men struck me a sharp blow on -the head with a long pole, at the end of which was affixed a wolf's -tail. - -It can well be supposed that from then on I sat bolt upright, my face -crimsoned with shame, and after such moment I had no desire to make -myself known to any who had met my father and mother, lest they reproach -me for the crime I had committed. - -We stayed in Plymouth the first two days of the week, and I had good -opportunity to see the town; but did not fall in love with it. Although -the people had been living there more than seven years, save for the -manner in which the houses were built, they were not so comfortably -settled as we of New Amsterdam, who had been in America no more than -fourteen months. - -I had a good look at that valiant soldier, Miles Standish, who had -fought in the Dutch army, as I well knew, and was much pleased with his -appearance, though I made no effort to have speech with him because of -what I had done in the church. - -It was Wednesday morning when we set out on our return, and I must -confess that I was happy, rather than sad, at turning my back upon the -English to meet the Dutch, for while we have less of preaching in New -Amsterdam, there is more of friendliness shown to strangers, or, so it -seemed to me whose heart was sore. - -Neither Hans nor Kryn had been called upon to take my place in the -storehouse, and within ten minutes after the _Nassau_ had come to -anchor off the fort, I was at work showing goods to the savages, as if I -had seen no more of this New World than those who labored with me. - -By this time our church was set in order, being, as I have said, in the -loft of the horse-mill, and you may be certain I did not allow my eyes -to close in slumber when I went to hear the zeikentroosters explain the -holy words next Sabbath day. We had no such pulpit as they at Plymouth, -but our benches were fairly comfortable to sit on, and Master Minuit's -chair had in it a red cushion that made a braver show than anything I -saw among the English. - - - - -FORGING AHEAD - - -Now, as the days went on, our town of New Amsterdam grew amazingly fast. -It was soon learned that there was good farming land along the eastern -side above the swamps, and within two years no less than six farms, -boweries,--the Dutchmen call them,--were laid out with good promise of -bountiful crops. - -The fort had been rebuilt of good stone, in the same shape as when first -made, and the storehouse for the trading goods had been finished as -Master Minuit promised. In addition to what we bartered with the -Indians, stores of all kinds that could be brought from Holland were put -on sale for the benefit of the laborers, and, because of my not being -able to do all the work, Kryn Gildersleeve was sent to me as an -apprentice. - -[Illustration] - -If that was not a rise in the world, then I do not know what it may be -called, and for it all I have to thank Master Minuit, who ever dealt by -the orphan lad as if he had been the son of a director in the West India -Company. - -It was no longer necessary for us to heap up stones to serve as -chimneys, for the laborers were making good bricks. To get lime we -burned the shells of oysters, of which there are in this land so many -that all the world may feed upon them till the youngest man has grown -gray-headed, without lessening the supply. - -Ships were coming to us from Holland nearly every month to take away the -furs that had been bought, and the timber cut from the forests. Of -building stone we had all that could be used, no matter how many other -people might make their homes in New Amsterdam. - -Truly it was wonderful how soon we made of that wilderness a country -that kings might covet, which indeed they did, as I came to know before -I was at an end of my service with the West India Company. - -If I give so much time to telling you of what we did in New Amsterdam -when Master Minuit was at the head of the government, you will not be -inclined to listen when I speak of what the other governors, sent by the -West India Company, accomplished for the good or ill of the country. - - - - -THE BIG SHIP - - -Therefore it is, that instead of pleasing myself by telling of all my -master did, I will come directly to that time when he left us. According -to my belief, the West India Company could not have found in all the -world any other man who would have served so faithfully, both the people -and the Company, as did Master Minuit. - -The last thing of moment which Director Minuit did, was to have built, -so that the merchants of Holland might see what we of New Netherland -could do, one of the finest ships, so I have heard it said, that was -ever put together. She was called the _New Netherland_. She measured -eight hundred tons, and carried thirty guns. - -At the time she was launched, I said to myself that never in this world -would be found men who could build a larger or more beautiful ship than -this, and yet I made a mistake in saying so, as I have made many others -during my life. - -[Illustration] - -I would I might tell you of the merrymaking and the feasting when the -_New Netherland_ was sent from the land into the water. I wish it might -be possible to describe the astonishment of the savages as they saw this -huge vessel being built up timber by timber, until she was fit to -encounter the tempests, and the waves, and the manifold dangers of the -sea. - -But I have said that in order to tell of what other things were done in -New Amsterdam I must make of what should be a long story, a short one. - -Now, whether it was the building of this wonderful ship that displeased -the directors of the West India Company, or other matters of Master -Minuit's government that offended them, I cannot say. And indeed it is -not to be expected that he who plays the part of clerk in a storehouse -should know much concerning affairs of state. - - - - -MASTER MINUIT'S SUCCESSOR - - -I am certain, however, that in six years after we arrived in the _Sea -Mew_, when New Amsterdam was a town of which to be proud, Master Minuit -set out for Holland, taking with him in the same ship no less than five -thousand beaver skins. - -When Master Minuit left us, it was our belief that he would soon come -back; but there must have been in his mind some doubt regarding it, for -he gave me much farewell advice on the night before the ship sailed, -declaring, that so far as anything he might do, I should be advanced in -the West India Company's employ as rapidly as was best. - -It must be that my master seriously offended the Council of the Company, -for I went in their employ no further on the road to fortune, or to -fame, than where he left me. - -During the year the affairs of New Amsterdam were looked after by the -Council of the town, and then came a new Director by the name of Wouter -Van Twiller. Of him I can tell you very little, for, unlike Master -Minuit, he showed no interest in the welfare of those who were serving -him. - -A short, fat man, who was overly fond of good dinners, and if I, who am -nothing but a clerk in the employ of the Company, may say it, with not -of brains enough to look after the concerns of such a town as New -Amsterdam was becoming, yet withal he accomplished somewhat toward -making this place beautiful. - -[Illustration] - -As I have said before, my duties kept me in the storehouse, and so -rapidly had the trade with the Indians increased, that instead of having -only Kryn Gildersleeve to help me, there were now five men under my -charge, while I myself was doing much of the bargaining with the -Indians. Therefore it is that I know but little concerning what this new -Director did or did not do. - -It was told in New Amsterdam that he had been no more than a clerk in -the employ of the West India Company in Holland; but he knew somewhat -regarding trading, for we set up posts here and there in such number -that all the gentlemen traders who had come over with Master Minuit were -needed to look after them, which accounts for my being allowed to -conduct the business affairs in the fort. - - - - -TROUBLE WITH THE ENGLISH - - -I do know this, however, that an English vessel came to anchor one -certain day off the town, and her captain said it was his purpose to go -up the river to one of our posts called Port Orange, there to trade with -the Indians on his own account. - -Master Van Twiller forbade his doing so; but after remaining five days, -the English captain sailed up the river, and then it was that our new -Director, calling together all the men in the town, armed three vessels -and drove the English out of the river. - -I also know that he brought trouble to himself and to the West India -Company, by doing that which the English people in Plymouth claimed he -had no right to do, and it was much like this: - -[Illustration] - -Our Dutchman, Adrian Block, had sailed up a river to the east of us, -which he called the Fresh River, and Master Minuit had traded there with -the savages to the extent of near ten thousand beaver skins, besides -other furs, each year. - -Now it seems the English of Plymouth claimed that this land had been -given them by King James, and so notified Master Van Twiller; but he -sent his secretary with a lot of toys, and bought from the savages that -piece of land called Connittecock, building thereon a trading post, in -which we mounted two cannon, and called it the House of Good Hope. - -Because of this the English of Boston, together with those in Plymouth, -set about driving the Dutch away from Fresh River by building another -post a short distance above them, and there, so I learned from the -traders who came to New Amsterdam, we were having considerable trouble. - -Master Van Twiller contrived also to get himself into trouble with the -English at Jamestown, and did have a pitched battle with them at our -forts at Nassau, on the Delaware River, gaining a victory, but giving -the Dutch a bad name with their neighbors. - - - - -MASTER VAN TWILLER DISCHARGED - - -This much I know, Master Van Twiller did much that was unwise; but out -of the harm he accomplished considerable of good, so far as concerned -New Amsterdam. - -He strengthened and beautified the fort, building within its limits a -goodly house of brick where he himself might live. He also laid out a -farm on the East River equal to any in Holland. On this he put up a -barn, a brewery, a boathouse, and a good stable, together with two -mills, and dwellings for a blacksmith, a cooper, and such soldiers as -might be lodged there to protect the place. - -Master Van Twiller also built us a wharf on the easterly side of the -point; a church which would have been an ornament to any town, as well -as a house for the minister, for by this time we had a licensed -clergyman. - -But with it all, so it was charged against him, he was making himself -rich at the expense of the Company, for he bought of the Indians, to be -held as his own property, three of the large islands nearby, as well as -a farm of sixty-two acres, which lay between the fort and the swamp. - -[Illustration] - -In some way the Council of the Company in Holland heard that Master Van -Twiller was working more to his own advantage than theirs, and before he -had been in New Amsterdam five years, a ship called the _Blessing_ came -into the harbor, having on board Master Wilhelm Kieft, who had with him -papers to show that he had been appointed Director of New Netherland. -Master Van Twiller was ordered to return at once to Holland, and there -give an account of his proceedings. - -And now, because of this same Master Kieft's having worked much harm to -us in New Amsterdam, causing the Indians to rise against us, I am minded -to tell you more concerning him than I have thought well to say -regarding Master Van Twiller. - - - - -DIRECTOR KIEFT - - -First, the seamen of the _Blessing_ whispered here and there stories -concerning him which were not to his credit; that he had failed in -business in Holland, and as a punishment his portrait had been nailed to -the gallows; again, that when he was sent by the king to Turkey, having -been given charge of money to be paid for the release of some Dutch -people who were held in slavery there, he put it in his own pocket, -allowing the poor men to wear out their lives as slaves to the Turks. - -He was a small man, with a sharp nose, sharp chin, and a face generally -that gave one the idea of a weasel, or of a person who is ever ready to -shed blood even though he does not benefit thereby. - -Perhaps I am overly severe in describing this new Director of ours, -because of the trouble which we in the storehouse had with him. - -Under Master Van Twiller we had conducted the business as we thought -best; but all that was changed before Director Kieft had been with us -eight and forty hours, for he soon gave the people in the employ of the -West India Company to understand that matters in New Amsterdam would, -from then out, go according to his liking, and with no reference -whatsoever to the Council, or to any other officers in the town. - -[Illustration] - -And all this he did with a high air, which chafed us the more because of -Master Van Twiller and Master Minuit having ruled us with kindly hands. - -He set himself up almost as a king, by discharging the members of the -town Council, and by appointing all the public officers, even so -important an one as the schout-fiscal. - -He decided, without heed to judge or jury, all cases which were brought -up in court, and, in fact, took upon himself the entire government, -regardless alike of Council or of the West India Company. - -But, in justice to Master Kieft, I must say that he took heed to that -which was wrong among us, for straightway he caused all our vessels to -be repaired, and indeed they were in sore need of attention. - -He enlarged and beautified the storehouse, of which I was in charge, -and, what was more to my liking, put an end to the trading with the -Indians by the people of the town, which had become, as I believed, a -serious evil, for almost every man in New Amsterdam was buying furs of -the savages on his own account, which was much to the loss of the West -India Company, and served greatly to cheapen our goods. - - - - -UNJUST COMMANDS - - -It would be useless for me to try to tell you all with which our people -charged Master Kieft before he had been in New Amsterdam a year. It is -better I should spend my time relating what he did which cost the lives -of so many white men, for to his door may be laid much of the suffering -which we knew while he ruled over us, although we were in the meanwhile -called upon to answer for the crime of the negroes who had killed the -Indian, as I have told you. - -First let me say, that on a certain morning, very shortly after Master -Kieft came among us, we found posted on the trunks of trees, on rocks, -and on the corners of the houses, written notices, signed by the new -Director, stating that whosoever traded with the Indians, save while -doing so at the command of the West India Company, should suffer death; -and that the Company's servants must begin work at a certain hour very -shortly after daybreak, and not cease labor until sunset. - -[Illustration] - -Also, among many other things, it was declared that the Indians -themselves should pay a certain amount of wheat, wampum, or furs toward -the support of the soldiers employed by the Company in different parts -of the country. - -There were many matters in these written notices that it is not -necessary for me to speak about. The last was that which caused us the -most trouble, for the Indians openly refused to obey any such command, -and Master Kieft went so far as to hang four whom he accused of trying -to persuade others of their tribe not to do as he had ordered. - -Now you can well fancy that such cruel acts served to make enemies of -those Indians who had been our friends. - - - - -MASTER MINUIT'S RETURN - - -It was while we were all in a turmoil with this new order of things, -that we had startling proof that my old master, Peter Minuit, was again -in the New World. - -It appears, although I cannot explain exactly why, that the West India -Company had turned him out of their employ, and Queen Christina of -Sweden had offered him a high office if he would build in America a town -for the Swedish people, such as he had built for the Dutch. - -This Master Minuit agreed upon, and at the time when, as I have said, we -were in the greatest turmoil because of the savages, he came over from -Sweden to the South River, not more than an hundred and thirty miles -from our town of New Amsterdam, and began building a fort. - -This news plunged me into a state of most painful excitement, for I -burned to see the good man once more, and to beg that he take me into -his service; but Master Kieft had given orders that no person be allowed -to leave New Amsterdam, save with his permission. Therefore how could I, -in charge of the Company's storehouse, expect to be allowed to go among -those who were considered enemies to the Dutch, for speedily had our -Director declared war against these Swedish people led by Master Minuit? - -Perhaps it is enough if I say that Master Kieft did not drive Master -Minuit away, and that the latter continued to build up a trading post -for the Swedish people until it became a stronghold in this New World. - - - - -THE REVENGE OF THE SAVAGES - - -While he was striving against the Swedes, word was brought Master Kieft -that some hogs, which had been turned out in the forest on Staten -Island, were no longer to be found there, and our sharp-nosed Director -immediately made up his mind, without any proof whatsoever, that the -savages who called themselves Raritans, had stolen them. - -Making no inquiry into the matter, he sent out a company of soldiers who -surrounded the unfortunate Indians in their village, and slaughtered -them as if they had been wild beasts, killing men, women, and children, -after which everything in the way of property was either destroyed or -carried away. - -The embers of the Raritan village had hardly more than grown cold, when -it was discovered that some of our own people had taken the hogs from -Staten Island, thus showing that the terrible murders had been committed -without any cause whatsoever, save Master Kieft's own suspicious, evil -imaginings. - -[Illustration] - -Then it was that instead of the people of New Amsterdam going out -peacefully, earning money for the West India Company, as they were in -duty bound to do, all were the same as shut up on Manhattan Island with -enemies on every hand; for, as may be supposed, such of the Raritan -Indians as remained alive sought every opportunity to gain revenge, -beginning by killing four planters on a farm at Staten Island, and -burning the buildings. - -This caused Master Kieft to shut his eyes to his own crime, and at once -every man was called upon to aid in killing the Raritans. Trade was -neglected, and our Director went so far as to offer such of the Indians -as remained friendly, ten long strings of wampum for the head of every -Raritan Indian which should be brought to him, and twenty strings for -each head of those who had been concerned in the murders on Staten -Island. - -As if blood did not flow in sufficient quantity, the people of the boy -who had escaped when the negro slaves murdered his father, or, as some -say, his uncle, declared war against us by killing poor old Claus -Schmidt, the wheelwright, who lived nearest the swamp; and we of New -Amsterdam had good reason to fear that all the savages roundabout might -take part, either with the Raritans, or with these new enemies, and we -should be murdered at the very time when our town was becoming of -importance. - - - - -MASTER KIEFT'S WAR - - -Master Kieft, taking no council save with his own evil thoughts, -announced that he would declare war against every brown man in the -country, and there is no question in my mind but that such might have -been the case to our utter destruction, had not the chief men of New -Amsterdam, and among them those who had been in the Council during -Master Van Twiller's reign, risen up against the Director, so far as -could be done without laying themselves open to a charge of mutiny. - -Our sensible men claimed, and with good reason, that war ought not to be -declared because of the crops being still unharvested, and because of -our having to gather in the cattle, swine, and sheep still roaming the -woods. They declared also, that the farmers who had settled some -distance away, had a right to be given warning in time for them to save -a portion of their property. - -To this Master Kieft agreed; but only for a certain time. He took it -upon himself to make preparations for war, and when winter was fully -come did actually begin it, setting himself, with no more than two -hundred and fifty Dutchmen, against two thousand savages who, because of -our greed for furs, as shown both by the people in their private -trading, and by the West India Company, were armed with the same kind of -guns we were using, as well as supplied with an ample store of powder -and ball. - -[Illustration] - -I would not, if I could, tell you all that followed. It is too cruel a -story; it has more to do with murder and death by torture, and with -keenest suffering, than would be well for you to hear while we have -gathered to listen to my poor tale of how the town of New Amsterdam was -built, and how it grew. - -It was a time when the bravest man's cheeks might well grow pale; when -women and children shrieked with fear, or trembled in silent terror at -the slightest unusual sound; when it was as if all the country -roundabout had been stained the color of blood; when we could no longer -lie down at night, or rise up in the morning, without fear; when we -ceased to live the lives of peaceful, honest traders, but were become -the same as hunted beasts,--and all through the evil of one man. - -Master Kieft was sent for by the West India Company none too soon, and -the pity of it is that he ever came to New Amsterdam, with his -hatchet-shaped face, to plunge us into a war with the savages, who had -all the right on their side. - -Hans Braun claimed because of Kieft's having built the great stone -tavern, which was the largest and most beautiful in all America, that he -had left behind him a monument which would ever keep his memory green. -But I question if any one, after Director Stuyvesant turned the building -into a town hall, ever cared to remember that it had been built by -Wilhelm Kieft. - - - - -DIRECTOR PETRUS STUYVESANT - - -On the eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord, 1647, a fleet of -four large vessels sailed into the harbor of New Amsterdam, bringing the -new Director, Petrus Stuyvesant, his family, servants, soldiers, and -many laborers. - -A one-legged man was Master Stuyvesant, who had been a brave soldier, -and, later, a governor of the island of Curaçoa, wherever it may be. -That he believed he was of considerable importance in the world, could -be told by his manner of moving about and of holding speech with any who -was lower in station than himself. - -[Illustration] - -It was as if he were too high and mighty to concern himself with what -might or might not be done in the storehouse, even though through that -building came the greater portion of all the money the West India -Company received from the New World. - -Do not understand me as saying that he gave no heed to such portion of -the Company's business as was under my charge. He took note of it, but -not as Master Minuit would have done, by coming daily in person to see -for himself that I, and all under me, were doing full duty. - -Director Stuyvesant sent the secretary, Master Van Tienhoven, to learn -what was being done, and that gentleman, as if believing I was not -making the best bargains for the Company, spent a goodly portion of his -time in the office of the storehouse, under the pretext of allowing me -to go here or there as I pleased. - -While Master Kieft was in office, I had so much of labor to perform that -two or three weeks, even a month on a certain time, would pass without -my having been outside the building. - - - - -TIME FOR SIGHT-SEEING - - -When the Secretary proposed that I take some time for pleasure, claiming -to do so only for my good,--although, as a matter of fact, I believe it -was but his purpose to learn whether or no I had been doing my full duty -by the Company,--I took advantage of the offer. - -If any could do better for New Amsterdam than I, then it was time a -change was made in the office of storekeeper and trader, this being my -title at the time, as can be shown by the records in Holland. I had -nothing to conceal, having ever done my work to the best of my ability, -and Master Van Tienhoven had free permission, so far as I was concerned, -to search for flaws. - -I may as well say at once, that he never found anything in my conduct -deserving of blame, although I did not hold my office quite so long as -the West India Company did business in America. - -However, Master Tienhoven was so far my friend that he gave me many an -opportunity of wandering about the town, which was almost strange to me, -after having been kept at work in the storehouse so long. - -The Indian village was no longer to be seen. When Master Kieft stirred -up so much trouble with the savages, the last one of the Manhattans fled -to the forest, there, most like, to join with our enemies against us, -nor did we see any of them save when they came in with furs or wild fowl -for barter. - -Where the village of the Manhattans had stood were gardens and houses, -many built of stone in the Dutch style, and in front of the fort, from -the lower bastion to the water's edge, was the green, or the common, -where the soldiers paraded on feast days that people might admire them. - -Inside the fort, and not far from my storehouse, was the church of stone -built by Master Kieft, the jail, the dwelling of the Director, -concerning which I have already told you, and low stone barracks, or -quarters for the soldiers, while on the northernmost bastion was a -wind-mill, made after the fashion of those in Holland. - -[Illustration] - - - - -HOW THE FORT WAS ARMED - - -It may interest you to know that our fort was well armed, having mounted -and ready for service, eight bombards, by which I mean heavy cannon with -wide, flaring mouths; six culverins, or exceedingly long, slim guns with -handles on either side for carrying; and seven serpentines, these last -being thin, long guns with grooves on the inside to throw the shot in a -whirling manner. As missiles for the serpentines, two balls were -chained together, being sent among the enemy in such way that they swung -round and round, oftentimes inflicting much damage. - -The palisade, which had been built straight across the island while the -savages were thirsting for our blood, was to me a wonder in those days -when Master Tienhoven gave me an opportunity for strolling about the -town. - -It was made of cedar logs full twelve-feet high, and less than a -quarter-mile back from the fort, stretching across the island for a -distance of nearly twenty-five hundred feet. Here and there, say every -three hundred feet, was a small fort built of logs, where the soldiers -could be protected while beating back an enemy, and at the water's edge -on the river to the eastward, was what is called a half-moon battery, -set well out into the stream, where were mounted two guns. - -[Illustration] - -The same kind of fortification stood at the other end of the palisade, -on the shore of that river discovered by Master Henry Hudson, and near -each battery was a gate giving entrance to the town, while an arch with -heavy barriers, formed with much ornamentation of carving, stretched -across the Broad Way. - -Following this palisade was a wide lane, along which were built the huts -of the slaves, servants, or people who were poor because of being lazy. - - - - -VILLAGE LAWS - - -It was on this palisade that I read the first of Director Stuyvesant's -messages, and during that stroll I saw so many of them that I can even -now repeat the words. They ran like this, and, to my mind, it would have -been well if Master Kieft had given his attention to the same matter: - - "Whereas, we are informed of the great ravages the wolf commits on - the small cattle; therefore to animate and encourage the - proprietors who will go out and shoot the same, we have resolved to - authorize the assistant Schout and Schepens to give public notice - that whoever shall exhibit a wolf to them which hath been shot on - this island, on this side Haarlem, shall be promptly paid therefor - by them, for a wolf twenty florins, and for a she-wolf thirty - florins in wampum, or the value thereof." - -When the farmer's bell tolled from the belfrey of the church within the -fort, all the gates in the palisade were closed, and no person might -enter or leave the city from that time, which was nine of the clock in -the evening, until sunrise of the next morning. - -I have heard it said that there were many living beyond the palisade who -claimed that this was all too early for them to leave the houses of -their friends in the town, when there for a visit of pleasure; but I -hold to it that he who would remain out of his bed longer than that is -little better than a night-brawler, because of honest people being ready -for sleep when the day's work is at an end. - - - - -OTHER THINGS ABOUT TOWN - - -A thing which displeased me, though perhaps I was easily put out by -anything Director Stuyvesant did, was that he should have set up the -gallows in front of the stone tavern built by Master Kieft, after it had -been turned into the town hall. - -[Illustration] - -To me that instrument of justice was a blot on the fair building, even -though it be something necessary in all towns; the whipping-post and the -stocks seem to be there by right, and do not cast such a horror upon -him who passes them, but to have ever in sight that which had been built -for the taking away of men's lives is, in a way, brutal. - -The hooft, or city dock, was ever a pleasant lounging place to me, -particularly when there were many ships in the roadstead. It was -pleasing to sit there idle, thinking Master Tienhoven was poring over my -accounts when the day was so fair that one enjoyed being in the -sunshine, and to watch the ships or the small boats that flitted to and -fro. It was enough to make one believe that in the days to come this New -Amsterdam of ours might grow to be even as large as Amsterdam in -Holland. - -[Illustration] - -Then could I, and all others who had a part in the building of the town, -look back with pride upon our life-work, save that in it should be -something of shame and crime, as in the case of Master Kieft, who, I may -say here, was drowned in a shipwreck on his way back to Holland to -answer to the Company for his misdeeds. - -But there was at times one matter which gave me pain at the city dock, -and that was whenever there arrived a vessel laden with black men, who -had been stolen from Africa. With such a scene in view I had no desire -to linger. - -It so chanced that I went there on a certain day when the _White Horse_, -a slave ship that came more than once to our town, was sending ashore a -throng of forlorn looking negroes to be exposed for sale, and there was -so much of suffering and heart-sickness in the scene that I went back to -the storehouse, glad to stay with Master Tienhoven rather than see the -misery which I could not cure. - - - - -A VISIT OF CEREMONY - - -Before Master Stuyvesant had ruled over us many months, he went in great -state to meet the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony at some place -in the Connecticut Colony, and if all that was said regarding the matter -be true, he did what he might to persuade the Englishmen that he was of -vast importance in this New World. - -He journeyed on the ship _Black Eagle_, taking with him no less than -eight servants, four trumpeters, and twelve soldiers, and I wonder much -whether those people who had built here in America such towns as Salem, -Plymouth, and Boston, were greatly impressed because the chief -magistrate of New Amsterdam, where were living no more than fifteen -hundred persons, could not go abroad without a following of twenty-four -men, to say nothing of the secretaries, the clerks, cooks, and -jacks-of-all-trades whom I saw flocking on board the ship. - -[Illustration] - -I was told that Director Stuyvesant went to meet the chief men of the -eastern colonies to talk with them about the threatenings of the -Indians, and as to what should be done in regard to sending to their -owners runaway slaves, and concerning other such like matters; but how -the different affairs were settled, I never heard. - -At all events, Master Stuyvesant came back in the same high and mighty -state as when he left us, after having been absent near to two weeks, -and in the meantime had made many enemies in New Amsterdam, for there -were not lacking those who claimed he was trying to make friends with -the English for some purpose of his own, when all his time should have -been spent in behalf of the West India Company. - - - - -NEW AMSTERDAM BECOMES A CITY - - -It was in the year 1652 that the town we had built was made a city, with -a charter straight from Holland, and our people rejoiced because of its -being possible at last, after so much of misrule, for them to have some -voice in affairs. - -According to this charter, the freemen of our new city were to select a -schout, four burgomasters, nine schepens, which last were what in -England would be called magistrates--and a council of thirty-six men -whose duty it would be to advise with the Director on all affairs -concerning the public welfare. - -There was great rejoicing in New Amsterdam when Stoffel Mighielsen, the -town crier, made this announcement, and I dare venture to say that on -the night the news was made public, but little attention was paid to the -farmer's bell by those who lived outside the palisade. - -[Illustration] - -On every hand you could hear men giving joy to each other because of the -time's having come when the Director would no longer have absolute power -over all in the town, but must be guided by those who were to be -elected by the ballots of the people, and following such rejoicings was -ever the question as to when the election would be held. - -There was much talk as to who should be chosen to fill the offices, and -all with whom I spoke declared that they were not to be influenced by -anything Master Stuyvesant might say; but would pick out such men as -could stand up honestly for the rights of all, instead of bending like -slaves to the whims of the Director. - - - - -MASTER STUYVESANT MAKES ENEMIES - - -Because of our people's being so excited over this opportunity to have a -part in the affairs of the city, you can well fancy what discontent, -which swelled almost to open mutiny, was among us when Master Stuyvesant -boldly announced that there would be no election. He had decided, so he -said in that high and mighty voice of his, that he would appoint the -city officers himself, without vote of the people, and this he did, -naming those men whom he knew would sneeze when he caught cold. - -Of course there were many vain threats made, and much whispering in dark -corners, the purport of which might have been construed into open -mutiny, had Director Stuyvesant or any of his following overheard the -stealthy conversation. The whipping-post, and even the gallows, stood -too conveniently at hand, while Big Pieter, the negro executioner who -had charge of the public floggings, was ever ready to adjust a noose, or -swing with vicious force the thongs of the whip. - -Many a time did I hear threats which would have sent him who made them -straight to the gallows, had they been repeated in the government house; -but the people were cautious, not minded to risk their necks for the -common good, and, so far as I can tell, Director Stuyvesant never knew -how near he was to a hornet's nest, when he took it upon himself to -throw aside one of the greatest privileges of New Amsterdam's charter. - -I doubt if it would have disturbed him much even had he known of the -discontent, for he ruled, as the saying is, with a rod of iron, and -seemed to think that there was never one, or an hundred, of the common -people to whose mutterings he need take heed. - -But for that act of his, I question if our men of the city would have -stood so calmly by when the English fleet came to capture New Amsterdam, -turning out of office every Dutchman. Director Stuyvesant would have -found more by his side in that bitter hour, when he was the same as -driven from the land, if he had kept the promise made when he first -arrived, to govern the people of our town as a father governs his -children. - -But it is not for me to speak of the English yet, for there is much to -tell concerning what was done by the Dutchmen, before Colonel Richard -Nicolls anchored off the battery with the guns of his fleet trained upon -us. - - - - -ORDERS FROM HOLLAND - - -We had settled down to the belief that while Director Stuyvesant ruled -us with an iron hand, neither allowing the people nor the West India -Company to interfere with his wishes, he was improving the city, when -orders came from Holland which aroused us all to the highest pitch of -excitement. - -The West India Company had sent positive commands that the Swedes, whom -Master Minuit had settled on South River, were to be driven out from -their posts, and there was not a Dutchman in New Amsterdam who did not -burn with the desire to have a hand in the driving; as if this big -country of America were not large enough for all the Swedes and the -Dutchmen that might want to live in it. - -Now you must know that when Master Minuit was made governor of the -Swedish people on South River, there had already been built there a fort -by the Dutch, which was called Casimer. This the Swedish people captured -and changed its name to that of Trinity. When Master Minuit came, he -built a fort on the river above Trinity, and named it Christina, in -honor of the Swedish Queen. - -They were not bad neighbors, these Swedish people whom the Queen had -advised to make a home in the New World. They minded their own business -far better than did either the Dutch or the English, and were at peace -with the savages, dealing honestly by them and treating them as if they -were equals; therefore, why the West India Company should want them -driven out of the New World was more than I could then, or can yet, -explain to my own satisfaction. - -However, the order had come that these people, who had been harming no -one, be deprived of the homes which they had built in the wilderness, -and there was in my mind the belief that Director Stuyvesant was only -too well pleased to receive such commands. - - - - -MAKING READY FOR WAR - - -Straightway there was much marching to and fro by the soldiers; and -great scurrying by the seamen, who were at once set about carrying -cannon and ammunition aboard the vessels, for Master Stuyvesant had -decided he would fit out a fleet of no less than seven ships. - -The trumpeters were sent up and down the land to every Dutch farm and -settlement calling for those who were willing to aid in driving out the -Swedes, to present themselves at the fort that they might be drilled and -equipped, and many there were who obeyed the summons. - -[Illustration] - -Those were idle days for me. No one thought of trading, and if -peradventure a solitary Indian did venture into the city with a bundle -of furs, he saw so much in the way of war-like preparations, that he -scurried away, forgetting his desire for beads or cloth, to tell his -people that the Dutch of New Netherlands were making ready to drive -every other person off from the face of the earth. - -Master Tienhoven no longer visited the storehouse, because of being busy -with taking down the names of those who would join Director Stuyvesant's -army, and I was at liberty to wander at will around the fort, if I but -kept a watchful eye over my quarters, in case any came who was brave -enough to venture in for trade where was so much of military -preparations. - -More than once I said to myself that if Master Minuit could have been -spared to the Swedes, our people would not have an easy task of driving -them away; but I knew, from word brought a long time before, that he was -no longer in this world; therefore, perhaps, Director Stuyvesant would -be able to work the will of the West India Company. - - - - -AN UNEXPECTED QUESTION - - -That I should be counted as among those to accompany the expedition, -never once had lodgment in my mind, until Master Tienhoven came to me -the day before the fleet was to sail, asking if all my preparations for -the voyage had been made. - -[Illustration] - -I was in a maze of perplexity because of the question. He who has charge -of a company's goods is supposed to remain where he can keep them under -his hand, more particularly in time of war, and for me to be pinned to -Master Stuyvesant's coat sleeves not only seemed useless, but positively -foolish. - -It may be that I said something of this kind to the Secretary, for he -shut me up in short order by curtly saying, as if he had his -instructions so to do, that the Director had supposed I would know my -duty sufficiently well to follow the army because of its being possible -there might be much plunder, in which case I was the one person who -should take charge of the Company's share. - -I was not such a simple but that I could understand it would please -Master Tienhoven right well if I made protest against going, for there -was little love lost between us two, and, believing he would repeat to -the Director in his own fashion whatsoever might be said by me, I held -my peace, save in so far as to ask on what ship I would be expected to -sail. - -He told me that Master Stuyvesant would himself embark upon one of the -vessels which had been sent out from Amsterdam, called the _De Waag_, -and that as an officer of the Company, even though an humble one, I -would be expected to journey on the same vessel. - -To one who had not been given to spending his wages upon brave attire, -and who owns little more than that in which he stands, it is not a -lengthy task to make ready for a voyage, however long. - -And here, by the way, let me say, lest any should think I was not -prudent, that I had carefully saved the wages paid me by the West India -Company, to the end that I might have sufficient of money to start in -some business on my own account, when the day came--as I believed it -would soon, yet without having much reason to do so--that my services -would no longer be required in New Amsterdam. - - - - -WITH THE FLEET - - -And now to go back to the war against the Swedes: I left the storehouse -in charge of Kryn Gildersleeve, and on Sunday morning bright and early -was in church to hear the sermon which was to be preached, as a portion -of the religious preparations for the driving out of the Swedes. - -When the sermon was at an end, instead of looking around the fort to see -the soldiers paraded before being sent on board the fleet, I quietly -took boat for the ship _De Waag_, and was there an hour after noon, when -Director Stuyvesant, attended by eight trumpeters, and a bodyguard of -sixteen men, put off from the shore amid the booming of cannon, as if he -had been a veritable king. - -I know not whether the Director had really given orders to his secretary -that I should be informed as to what was expected of me, but suppose -such must have been the case, although no heed was given to so small an -official as myself, from the time of setting sail until we were returned -to New Amsterdam. - -[Illustration] - -So far as Master Stuyvesant was concerned, I might as well not have been -there, but this overlooking me did not cause my heart to burn, for I was -well content to be forgotten entirely by the gentleman who ruled over -our city with an iron hand. - -The officers of the ship, whose acquaintance I had already made, gave me -fairly comfortable quarters, apart from the Director's following, and -although such expeditions were not to my mind, I drank in all of the -enjoyment that could come to one who was embarked upon a venture which -to him seemed wrongful. - -There is no need why I should tell you anything whatsoever concerning -the journey from New Amsterdam to Trinity, save to say that we arrived -off that fort at noon on the following Friday, when without delay our -trumpeters were sent on shore to demand the surrender. - - - - -DRIVING OUT THE SWEDES - - -In the fort were forty-six men with a captain, and, as a matter of -course, they could do no less than surrender when called upon so to do, -for our force numbered upwards of seven hundred, and we had sent from -the fort in New Amsterdam, on board the vessels, guns enough to tear the -fort into splinters within an hour. - -The Swedish captain said all he could to soften the heart of Director -Stuyvesant, who would listen neither to entreaties nor arguments, save -that he permitted the garrison to march out with full honors of war, and -immediately this had been done, a number of our men, sufficient to hold -possession of the place, were sent on shore. - -Then nearly all the people of the fleet assembled on board the _De Waag_ -to hear our preacher give thanks to God for the bloodless victory which -had been won, and within four and twenty hours we were on our way to -Christina, where, so we learned at Trinity, there was a force of only -about thirty men. - -[Illustration] - -Here the trumpeters blew their shrill blasts again in front of the fort -and surrender was demanded; but the governor of the colony was not -minded to give in without at least a struggle of the tongue. From the -second until the fifteenth day of September, we lay there at anchor -while he protested against what he called high-handed proceedings, -trying vainly to prove to Director Stuyvesant that he and his following -had as much right in the wilderness of the New World, as had the Dutch. - -It was all in vain, however, and, as may be expected, the result was -that we captured Christina as we had Trinity, thus putting an end to -this colony of New Sweden. - -Again did we give thanks to God, although we had done a wrong, and it -was while we were thus praising the Lord, and giving much credit to -ourselves for having conquered without bloodshed seventy-seven men with -a force of seven hundred, that a messenger came in hot haste from New -Amsterdam. - -In the twinkling of an eye our rejoicings were turned to something very -like fear. - - - - -THE UPRISING OF THE INDIANS - - -And this is the news which the messenger brought:--It seems that two -days after our fleet had sailed from New Amsterdam, Master Van Dyck -found an Indian woman in his orchard stealing peaches; without parley or -warning, he shot her dead, and there were those of her tribe nearby who -carried with all speed to the Indian villages information of the murder. - -The savages knew that Master Stuyvesant and nearly all the fighting men -of the city were away, and speedily they gathered to take revenge. It -was said that no less than two thousand savages, having come in -sixty-four canoes, paddled down the Hudson River in front of the city -while we lay off Christina arguing with the Swedish governor. - -The Indians claimed that they had come only in order to find some -enemies of their tribe whom they believed had fled there, and proceeded -to break open a dozen or more of the houses while searching for those -whom they professed to be seeking. - -Now there had been left in the fort less than twenty soldiers, while -the greater number of our cannon were on board the fleet for the purpose -of killing the Swedes, in case they refused to give up their forts to -us. Therefore it would have been folly had our people made any attempt -at holding the savages in check. - -[Illustration] - -The burgomasters and other officers of the city did what they could to -pacify the painted visitors, and so far succeeded, by soft words, as to -persuade them to withdraw to Nutten Island. - -One can well fancy in what a state of terror were those whom Director -Stuyvesant had left behind in New Amsterdam, while so great an army of -savages, who had just cause for anger, was so near at hand. - -The women and the children fled to the fort for protection, where but -little could have been given them had the brown men made an attack, and -during all the hours of the day no one dared venture abroad. The shops -and the dwellings alike were left unprotected, while those trembling, -frightened ones who crouched within the fort, believed that death was -close beside them. - -[Illustration] - - - - -AN ATTACK BY THE INDIANS - - -The Indians remained quietly on Nutten Island until nightfall, when they -came into New Amsterdam again, went directly to Master Van Dyck's house, -and killed him. - -One of his neighbors attempted to lend him aid, and was stricken down in -short order,--not, however, before he had given an alarm. Such soldiers -as had been left in the fort, together with the men of the city, -hastened with true courage to the scene of the murder, where a small -battle took place, in which three Indians were killed outright, and many -wounded. - -It was as if the savages needed only this to send them upon the war path -again; but instead of making any attack upon New Amsterdam, where were -so few to oppose them, they went to the plantations nearby, killing or -capturing men, women, and children, burning dwellings and destroying -crops. - -Yet this was no more than we had threatened to do to the Swedes, and -without such cause as the savages had. - -During the three days that the Indians remained near New Amsterdam, so -the messenger said, more than one hundred persons had been killed, and -nearly twice as many carried to a dreadful captivity. The buildings on -twenty-eight of the plantations were burned and the crops destroyed -utterly. - -It needed not that this man who had come to us pale with terror, and -fearing lest on his return he should find those whom he loved butchered, -should tell us into what condition the city was plunged because of such -a state of affairs. We could see, in our minds, the people of New -Amsterdam as they cowered like sheep before wolves, unable to flee. - -There was no place for them to go, save into the wilderness where lurked -brown men who were thirsting for revenge, and they were unable to do -more than make the merest show of defence, owing to the fact that -Director Stuyvesant had taken with him nearly all the able-bodied men, -and a goodly portion of the weapons, to the end that he might do much -the same as were the savages doing. - -[Illustration] - - - - -HASTENING BACK TO NEW AMSTERDAM - - -It can well be supposed that every man of us, from the Director down to -the youngest soldier, was eager to get back to New Amsterdam, for I -question whether, with the single exception of myself, there was a -member of the company who had not left behind him loved ones; and how -could our people find any satisfaction in continuing the conquest of -the Swedes, when there was every possibility that the savages were -murdering and torturing white men, women, and children? - -Within an hour after the messenger had arrived, two hundred of the -soldiers were sent across the land to New Amsterdam, under orders to -march at their swiftest possible pace until they were come to the city. -As soon after these men had set off as could be arranged for, the fleet -was in motion. - -Because of my having received no orders whatsoever, I remained on board -the _De Waag_, and my heart was so sore that I could not talk with those -around me concerning what we had heard, or what we had done. - -To me both were equally horrible. It was villainous work for us to drive -the poor Swedes away, and it seemed almost like a judgment of God, that -the Indians should have descended upon our city at a time when we were -showing ourselves to be no better than savages. - -Fortunately, or so it seemed, we had a favoring wind, and within four -and twenty hours from the time of making sail, were come to anchor off -the fort. That those who had been sent across by land had arrived, we -knew because of the numbers to be seen on duty in the bastions, and that -the Indians had not made further attack upon New Amsterdam, we also -understood because of the people who were gathered to give us welcome. - -I went directly from the ship to the storehouse, where I found Kryn -Gildersleeve and his fellow clerks working valiantly to pack our goods -into cases, which had been brought from Holland, with the hope that -these might be saved, even though the savages gained possession of the -town. - -[Illustration] - -Although I held my peace, the thought was in my heart that he who could -give his time to the saving of such useless trinkets as ours, when -mayhap before morning not a single white man would be alive, was much -the same as trifling with the Angel of Death. - -However, I was soon engaged in the same task, and while thus busy, -forgot everything save the fact that I was the clerk in charge of the -storehouse, whose duty it was to look after whatsoever we had for -barter, whether to my mind it was of value or not. - - - - -COAXING THE SAVAGES - - -And now I have to tell you that which bears witness to Master Petrus -Stuyvesant's ability as a ruler. Although I never felt friendly -disposed towards him, because of thinking myself neglected, there is -enough of honesty in my heart to give praise where it is due. - -When Master Kieft was governor of New Amsterdam, and through his folly -had caused the Indians to seek revenge, he did no more than meet them -with powder and ball, widening the breach between the brown and the -white men day by day; but our Director, stern and unyielding as he had -ever shown himself to be, had so much of wisdom that he knew when it was -useless to beat his head against a wall of stone. - -[Illustration] - -With so many of the savages risen against us, all the white men whom we -could muster would not have been sufficient to hold them in check; to -wage war with them would have meant the utter wiping out of the Dutch in -America. - -Therefore it was that Master Stuyvesant, instead of seeking to punish -those who had attacked our people, set about coaxing them into a -friendly mood, and during the three or four weeks which followed our -return from Trinity and Christina, there was a continual coming and -going of messengers from the Director to the savage chiefs, who were to -be brought, through Master Stuyvesant's plans, to a peaceable life by -the means of gaudy toys. - -And all this Master Stuyvesant succeeded in doing. Before the winter's -snows were come, the savages were seemingly friendly with us once more, -it being understood that past crimes, whether committed by white men or -brown, were to be forgotten, and, so to speak, all of us who were -dwelling in and around the land claimed by the West India Company, were -to live on terms of friendship. - - - - -INTERFERENCE WITH RELIGIOUS FREEDOM - - -It must be remembered, that when the West India Company asked people to -go out and live in the New World, every one was promised that he should -worship God as seemed to him best. - -This was a portion of the bargain made when the people left Holland, and -yet before another spring had come, Master Stuyvesant declared, by -written notices and by the mouth of Stoffel Mighielsen, that no person -would be allowed to praise God save he did it according to the belief -and the rules of the Dutch Reformed Church. - -[Illustration] - -It was on a certain Easter Monday, when all over the city the young men -and maidens were playing at egg cracking, that Master Stuyvesant's plan -for punishing those who did not choose to go to the same church as did -he, was begun. - -The Dutch had brought with them from Holland all the old games such as -are played to-day; but the favorite among them was the cracking of eggs -on Easter Monday, and I dare venture to say every young person in this -land of America knows the game well by this time. - -The shops were gay with boiled eggs of various colors, hung in the -windows by many-colored ribbons, and it is not much straining at the -truth to say that every person in New Amsterdam, save those who, like -the soldiers, could not leave their posts of duty, was in the street, -walking to and fro watching the young people as they strove to see how -many eggs they could capture by cracking them, when a Quaker, and an -Englishman at that, was taken into custody for preaching nearby New -Amsterdam without permission of Master Stuyvesant. - -Although this was directly opposite to what the West India Company had -said might be done in such portion of the new land as they claimed, it -would have passed almost unheeded had the arrest been made quietly; but, -so I have heard it said, and so I believe, Master Stuyvesant himself -gave positive commands as to how the prisoner should be treated, and -what should be done with him before he was lodged in jail. - - - - -PUNISHING THE QUAKER - - -A godly man was this Quaker, and yet he was tied face down to the back -end of a cart, in which were two women accused of giving him shelter, -and this sorry spectacle was paraded through the streets in the midst of -our merrymaking. - -Even though the man had been accused of some crime, it would have been -more to the credit of our Director had he been lodged in jail without -first marching him up and down that all the people might look upon the -disgrace. - -That he had done no more than preach the word of God in a manner such as -was not set down by the rules of the Dutch Reformed Church, caused the -arrest to seem much like wickedness, and there were many persons in New -Amsterdam who in private cried out against it, for to speak in those -days openly against whatsoever the Director commanded was cause for -imprisonment in the dungeons, as in the case of Master Keller's raising -his voice against the capture of the Swedish forts. - -Nor was this punishment, severe though you will say it was, all that the -Director imposed upon the God-fearing Quaker. He ordered that unless he -could pay the sum of six hundred florins at once, he should be chained -to a wheelbarrow by the side of a negro, who had been condemned to such -labor for the good of the city because of having brutally beaten a -Dutchman, and this for the term of two years. - -The Quaker refused to move when they chained him to the black man, and -it seemed to me well that he did so; but the refusal cost him dearly, -for he was hung up by the thumbs and beaten with thirty lashes each -morning for the space of four days, when a sister of Master Stuyvesant -mercifully begged for, and succeeded in obtaining, the prisoner's -release. - -[Illustration] - -Now you may be certain that our people of New Amsterdam, although -knowing what might be their punishment for speaking against such an act, -did not hold their tongues. - -Wherever two or three of the common people were gathered on the green, -or in the streets, there could one hear harsh words spoken against the -Director, and because of such tongue-wagging there were seventeen free -men of New Amsterdam at one time imprisoned in the jail by the orders of -Master Stuyvesant. - - - - -OTHER PERSECUTIONS - - -Instead of seeking to soothe the people, our Director became more harsh -and severe in such matters, and followed the arrest by sending back to -Holland a preacher who had come at the request of the Lutherans of our -city. Fathers and mothers to the number of six were put in jail because -of refusing to have their children baptized in the Dutch church, -desiring it should be done according to the Lutheran faith. - -That he fined the Baptist preacher one thousand pounds and banished him -from the West India Company's lands, was no secret, since it was all -done in open court with our Director acting both as judge and jury, and -this despite the charter sent from Holland. - -I might go on until you were wearied, telling of the religious -persecutions in New Amsterdam while Master Stuyvesant was Director; but -there is no good reason why one should repeat each case of suffering. - -It is enough that it was done, and verily did it seem to me in later -days, that in the doing of it Master Stuyvesant was digging a pit for -his own downfall. - -To you who hear these things after they have passed, and concerning -people whom you know not, they seem of but little importance; but to one -like myself, who had been told on the other side of the ocean that this -new land of America would be a refuge for all who were oppressed because -of their faith, it is a sore that will take long in the healing. - - - - -DULL TRADE - - -It seems to me, as I look back upon it, that at about the time Master -Stuyvesant was hunting down with such a heavy hand those people who did -not come regularly to the Dutch church, preferring to hear some other -preacher, that our trade in furs fell off in a manner to cause alarm. - -As a matter of course we did not reckon that time when the savages were -bent on killing us, and, therefore, remained away entirely; but as -compared with what we took in when matters with the Indians were most -friendly, we were losing ground rapidly. - -With the Swedes driven out of the land, it surely seemed as if the West -India Company should have been able to get, by trading, all the pelts -taken by the Indians, and yet, from all I could hear, I knew that not -more than one half were coming our way. In addition to this, the savages -were bent on driving keener bargains, as if there were people close -around who were offering bigger prices than we of New Amsterdam. - -All this caused me no little trouble of mind, for although it was not my -concern to go abroad urging the Indians to come in for trade, I knew -that more than a fair share of blame would attach to me when the profits -of the year were reckoned. - - - - -THE CHARGE MADE BY HANS BRAUN - - -Kryn Gildersleeve and I had many a talk regarding the matter, until on a -certain day he came with word which aroused me in no little degree, for -he claimed to know that Hans Braun had been to the Director with the -charge that I was neglecting my work, thus causing a falling off in our -take of furs. - -It had for some time been in my mind that at the first good chance I -would bid good-bye to the Dutchmen of New Amsterdam, and go to the -English, my countrymen, either in Boston or Salem, for I had laid by -sufficient of money, not having squandered my wages, to set me up in -fur-buying on my own account. I had been told, by those who knew, that -in the English colonies there was no Company with the sole right to deal -in pelts. - -In addition to all that, the Englishmen had begun to rule the land -themselves, save as their king might interfere, and such government -pleased me far better than to be under the iron hand of a single man -like our Director. - -Therefore it was that I went straightway to Master Stuyvesant, -determined to know if he believed what Hans might have said; and, if you -please, it was three long hours that I cooled my heels at the entrance -to his chamber of business before I, the keeper of the storehouse and a -regular officer of the Company, was allowed to enter, such kingly airs -had he taken upon himself. - -[Illustration] - -When at last I stood before him, it was not as a beggar, though of -course my hat was in my hand, but as one who knows that he may not -lawfully be displaced save by direct orders from Holland. - -Speaking to him as the head of the city should be spoken to, I repeated -what Kryn had told me, and asked if he had cause to complain of me. - - - - -DISMISSED BY MASTER STUYVESANT - - -Had I been a Lutheran preacher, or a Quaker, I could not have been -treated more shamefully. Instead of questioning as to why our trade was -growing small, in which case I should have told him that in my belief it -was owing to the English colony in the country of Connecticut, he cried -out upon me in a most violent rage, declaring that I had been spending -my time breeding discontent among the people, instead of having a -watchful eye over the interests of the Company. - -And this when I had never been outside the fort, save while Master -Tienhoven was in the storehouse giving the advice that I take my ease! - -Nor was this the end of the matter; it seemed as if, being in a bad -humor, he was bent on venting his spleen upon me, and without giving any -reasons, other than as I have told you, the Director declared that I was -no longer in the employ of the Company. - -When I spoke to him of the rule that a storekeeper may not be deprived -of his office save by the Council of the Company in Holland, he called -me a mutinous hound, and threatened that if I showed myself inside the -fort after the sun had set, I would be thrown into prison. - -[Illustration] - -I knew full well that I would be powerless if he did such a wicked -thing, for of course the word of the Director would be heeded by the -Company when set against one of the lower officers like myself, -therefore did I hold my temper in check, striving to look the -submission which I did not feel. - -[Illustration] - -It is no more than just that I should give Kryn Gildersleeve credit for -grieving over the injustice that had been done me; but he could not mend -matters, even if I would have had him, and two hours before sunset I had -made a bargain for lodgings on the plantation belonging to Martin Kip, -who was glad to have in his family one who knew the Indians so well that -he might be expected to get some hint if the savages were bent on more -mischief. - -I had known Martin for many a year, he having come over in the _Sea Mew_ -when I did, and trusted him for a true friend, if so be he was not -called upon for an outlay of money. - -To him I told my plans for joining one of the English colonies, and much -to my surprise he gave me his reasons for believing that I would soon be -in an English colony, if I remained in New Amsterdam taking good care -not to show myself in such a manner as would arouse Director -Stuyvesant's ire. - - - - -ENGLISH CLAIMS - - -It was a long story concerning England, and the rights she claimed in -the New World, which he told, the repeating of which would not be of -interest to you who know all he could have said, and, most likely, much -more. - -What I had not known was that the English believed they owned all the -land that had been settled by the West India Company, because, so they -said, of John Cabot's having been the first white man to set foot on it; -but the Dutch claimed that Henry Hudson first found the river which was -sometimes called the North, therefore the country between it and the -South river belonged to them. - -Because of no one's knowing at that time how large a country had been -found in this New World, and because of the English kings' having given -away lands to this person or that company, everything was in a snarl; -but I said to myself that if the Swedes could be driven out of their -settlements by Master Stuyvesant, it would be no more than turn about -for him to get the same treatment from the English. - -And, even though I had been working for the Dutch during so many years -that I had grown from boy to man, there was a great hope in my heart -that Master Kip had made no mistake when he believed we were like to -have a change of rulers before many years went by. - - - - -IDLE DAYS - - -While I waited, making myself as small as possible lest the Director -should see me and remember that he had threatened to throw me into -prison, the people were growing more and more discontented because of -Master Stuyvesant's not ceasing to punish Lutherans, Baptists, or -Quakers when they refused to attend the Dutch church. - -Many a one threatened, in private, to do what he might toward teaching -the Director a lesson, if a fitting chance came his way, and I have been -told that a dozen or more Dutchmen, who had friends in power in Holland, -sent to the West India Company many complaints concerning Master -Stuyvesant, praying that he might be deprived of his office. - -It was during these idle days that I learned, because of asking many -questions, much concerning the village of Hartford, which had been begun -by the preacher Hooker, and all who went to his church in New Town of -the Massachusetts Bay Colony. - -These people wanted a village of their own, therefore entered the forest -with but little of goods, suffering much in the battle with the -wilderness, but coming out victors owing to their industry. - -While we of New Amsterdam had built a city, we could count no more than -fifteen hundred people in it, and this settlement on the Connecticut -river, which was by this time made up of three villages, boasted of more -than eight hundred persons. - -It was to Hartford I would first go when a fitting opportunity came, so -I said to myself after hearing all that could be told concerning these -people, and to such an end I began to make plans. - -Wherever I might go, however, I could not find so much to please the eye -as in New Amsterdam, for the English people in this New World are much -more prim and sedate, both in manner and dress, than are the Dutch. - - - - -ON BROAD WAY - - -It was indeed a brave sight to see the people of quality walking on -Broad Way, or strolling to and fro upon the Bowling Green, of a summer -evening, and although I so disliked the man, I must confess that -Director Stuyvesant and his family went far toward adding to the fine -array. - -The ladies dressed exceeding gay in high-colored gowns of silk, satin, -or some other such stuff, open up and down in front of the skirt that -their petticoats, ornamented with fine needlework, might be seen. Their -hose were of bright colors, and the low shoes, with very high heels, had -bows of ribbon, or buckles of silver, even of gold, which added much to -the looks of the wearer. It was the silken hoods which I disliked, for -those ladies curled or frowzled their hair in a most bewitching fashion, -afterward covering it with powder, and the hood concealed far too much -of it. - -[Illustration] - -To see the rings set with precious stones on their fingers; the lockets, -or toys, of gold hanging over the stiff fronts of their waists, and, on -Sundays, the Bibles and psalm books richly decked with gold and hanging -by golden chains to their waists, one would hardly believe that we were -living in such a wild land, with savages on every hand, who might at any -moment be at our throats. - -Our gentlemen did not allow the ladies all the bravery of attire, as you -shall hear when I tell you how Director Stuyvesant was dressed when, -standing half-hidden behind the whipping-post one evening, I saw him -parading with his wife and sister, showing by the way he stumped along -with his head high, that he believed himself the greatest man this side -Holland. - -He wore a long coat of blue velvet on which were silver buttons, and the -huge flaps of the pockets were trimmed with silver lace. His waistcoat, -so long that the front came nearly to his knees, was of buff silk -embroidered with silver threads, and fastened by buttons of gold in -which were set jewels of different colors. His breeches of velvet were -of a deeper hue than the coat, while the low shoe had on it a silver -buckle so large that the wonder of it was how he could move his foot. - -He wore on his head a soft black hat, whose wide brim was caught up on -one side with a gay knot of blue ribbon that fell down athwart his big, -white wig. From the knot on his hat to below the black silk hose, he -was, when viewed on one side, a very gallant gentleman; but turn him -about so that his wooden stump with its heavy bands of silver might be -seen, and one could not but remember the battle at St. Martins, where he -left his leg during a desperate fight. - - - - -LOOKING AFTER THE FERRY - - -During a portion of my idle time, I worked at fair wages for Nicholas -Steinburg, who ran the ferry from near the water-gate to the Long Island -shore, and of a verity I earned all he paid me. - -[Illustration] - -The boat on which wagons were taken across, was the most clumsy scow it -was ever my ill fortune to handle, and his slaves the most stupid to be -found in all New Amsterdam. One was forced to send the unwieldy craft -along by heavy sweeps, which were fashioned so rudely that I dare -venture to say there was twice as much of timber in them as was -necessary, and that foolish negro who failed to lift one of them at the -proper time, found that the current swung it around with a force that -sent him sprawling in the bottom of the boat. - -More than once have I picked one of the thick-headed black men up from -beneath the feet of the horses, and spent no little time trying to -recover the oar. - -However, there was not much passing to and fro, for there were but few -farms on the big island, and a goodly portion of the time I spent in the -thatched shed which was put up for the pleasure of those who were forced -to await Nicholas Steinburg's slow motions. - -It is wearying work, looking after a ferry, even though one gets as wage -one-half the money paid over to him, and I would not thus have spent my -time, had I not been taught by Master Minuit that he who squanders his -days in idleness is the same as reproaching God for permitting him to -live. - -Then came the day when I rejoiced secretly, and many another man with -me, because of what Director Stuyvesant had done to wrong us. - - - - -THE COMING OF THE ENGLISH - - -It was reported that the English, with four ships, had arrived at Boston -from England, and were making ready to come against New Amsterdam, to -the end that it might be taken from the Dutch, even as they had taken -Trinity and Christina from the Swedes. - -We knew that there could be no doubt as to the truth of the news, for -even the names and strength of the ships were given, and there was -little question but that they had already sailed from Boston, therefore -did we have reason to believe the fleet would be in our harbor very -soon. - -[Illustration] - -The force which King Charles had sent on advice of his brother, the Duke -of York, was made up of the _Guinea_, carrying thirty-six guns, the -_Elias_ with thirty, the _Martin_ with sixteen, and the _William and -Nicholas_ with ten, making ninety-two guns against our twenty-two -bombards, culverins, and serpentines. - -It was reported also that many of the English from Hartford, who -believed they had cause of complaint against Master Stuyvesant, had -joined themselves to the soldiers sent from England, and that no less a -person than Governor Winthrop was with them. - -To show how complete was the information which came to us discontented -ones of New Amsterdam, it is only needed for me to say that we even knew -that the English commander was Colonel Richard Nicolls, who was to be -Deputy Governor of the West India Company's possessions when he had -captured them. - - - - -A WEAK DEFENSE - - -I knew, in addition to all this, because of having lived so many years -in the fort, that we were not in a condition to hold our own against -even one of these English ships, because of many of our soldiers' being -in the same frame of mind as was I, concerning the Director, and even -though each and every one had been heart and hand with Master -Stuyvesant, there was not in all the city enough of ammunition to serve -the guns during a battle. - -It stood on the accounts that we had thirteen hundred pounds of powder -in the magazine; but I knew, as did many another, that of the whole -amount a full seven hundred pounds would not burn even though it was -thrown into a blazing fire. - -We had one hundred and fifty soldiers under arms, and Martin Kip had the -names of ninety-six of these who had declared that if English, French, -or Swedes came against us while Petrus Stuyvesant was Director, they -would not raise a hand in defense of the city. - -There were also near to two hundred and fifty citizens who had been -armed and commanded to be ready for service in time of danger; but I -knew beyond a question that more than half the number would stand with -hands in their coat pockets, rather than raise them in obedience to an -order from Director Stuyvesant. - -Thus it can be seen that the English had chosen a most favorable time -for coming against us, and, as if to make their chances even better, -Master Stuyvesant, suspecting no evil, had gone on a tour of inspection -far up the North river. - - - - -MASTER STUYVESANT ABSENT - - -On the night this welcome news was brought to New Amsterdam, the farm -buildings belonging to Martin Kip were actually crowded with men, who -had come thus far out of the city that they might decide upon what -should be done when the Director gave orders for all the citizens to -stand to their weapons, and a most excited throng it was. - -Some one brought word that a messenger had been sent in hot haste up the -river to summon Master Stuyvesant, and others had learned from -fishermen who had been in the lower bay, that the English fleet was even -at that moment in sight. - -Although the people had been so disposed, nothing could be done in the -way of making ready to defend the city until Master Stuyvesant came -back, and from all I could hear, though as a matter of course I had no -speech with those who were friendly with the Director, no one was sorry -because of there promising soon to be an end to Dutch rule in America. - -We were well content to remain idle, knowing that each hour of the -Director's absence made more certain the end we desired, and it was -rather from curiosity than anxiety, that Martin Kip and I stood half -sheltered by one of the bastions of the fort when Master Stuyvesant -arrived. - -[Illustration] - -During the hurried journey he must have settled in his own mind exactly -what should be done, for within ten minutes after having come, orders -were given that every third man of all the citizens should, with axe, -spade, or wheelbarrow, present himself at the fort ready to aid in -strengthening the works. - - - - -DISOBEYING COMMANDS - - -Not above ninety obeyed this command, and the greater number of those -who did so were, in one way or another, under Master Stuyvesant's thumb. - -[Illustration] - -At the same time guards were placed at the city gates to prevent any -from leaving the city over the land, and every farmer was commanded to -send in all the grain he had on hand, together with what his slaves -could thresh during the next eight and forty hours. - -Martin Kip laughed at this last order, declaring that he would hold all -he had of food-stuff at the muzzle of his gun, and no man in the country -should force him to give up to the use of others, what might be needed -for his own family and for his slaves. - -Nor did he stand alone in such refusal; I heard of but two who obeyed, -and one of these was the schout who had been appointed to office at the -time when Master Stuyvesant refused to give us the rights called for by -the charter which had been sent from Holland. - -[Illustration] - -It must be told to the credit of the Director, that he set a good -example of obedience, for all his servants and slaves were hard at work -hauling grain into the city from his farm above the swamps, or engaged -in threshing that which yet remained on the stalk. - -It seemed as if Master Stuyvesant believed it would be possible for him -to hold out a long while against the English, and he was preparing for a -regular siege. - - - - -SURRENDER OF THE CITY DEMANDED - - -There had been no more than time to issue commands, when the fleet we -had been expecting sailed up the harbor, and anchored within full view -of the city. The ships were seemingly crowded with soldiers, and even -those who were eager to prevent the English from working their will, -must have begun to understand that there was no hope of making a -successful defense. - -The streets of the city were filled with men, women, and children, who -wandered about aimlessly, too much excited to be able to remain within -doors, and as messengers came and went from the fleet, enough of what -was being done leaked out to give us a good idea of the matter in hand. - -First we knew that the commander of the fleet had demanded the surrender -of the city, and this we would have understood even though no one told -us, because of the officers who came ashore under flag of truce. - -Then it was whispered about that Master Stuyvesant wanted to talk over -the situation with the English commander; but was told that the fleet -had been sent to take the city, not that its officers might argue. - - - - -A THREE DAYS' TRUCE - - -Upon this Master Stuyvesant asked for three days in which to consult -with his advisors, forgetting, perhaps, that the Swedes had asked for -only twelve hours, and he had refused. - -To this request Colonel Nicolls agreed, but at the same time made all -his preparations for opening fire upon the city, in case Master -Stuyvesant was so pig-headed as to refuse to surrender. - -Two of the ships were sent up the river and anchored where they could -throw shot into the fort at short range, while the others were moored -off Nutten Island, sending five companies of soldiers ashore near the -ferry landing on Long Island, where they went into camp. - -[Illustration] - -Next morning a company of horsemen and a band of soldiers came down from -Hartford, and were ferried across in the boats of the fleet, thus -showing that the Massachusetts Bay Company would do what they might to -carry out the wishes of King Charles. - -That night the commander of the English fleet sent ashore, secretly, -twenty or more written messages to the people, and both Martin Kip, on -whose farm the messengers landed, and I, knew beyond a peradventure that -there were found men in New Amsterdam willing to spend their time -carrying them where the most good might be done to the enemy. - -In these messages Colonel Nicolls promised all who would lay down their -arms, full liberty to remain on the land, without being molested in any -way, and agreed that his king would protect them in the holding of all -their property. - -Now even those who had been hesitating whether to side with the Dutch or -the English, were eager to see the surrender of the city, and when the -Director called upon citizens to work on the fort or the palisade, he -could find none save servants or slaves to answer his summons, and even -these it was necessary to drive with such of the soldiers as were yet -willing to obey orders. - - - - -VISITORS FROM THE ENGLISH - - -At noon of the second day of the truce, a boat put off from the fleet, -coming directly toward the city, and before she was near to the dock -some of the Englishmen among us cried out that he who stood in the bow -was Governor Winthrop, of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. - -Then it was that Master Stuyvesant ordered a salute to be given, as if -the gentleman were coming to us as a friend, and when the latter stepped -on shore, followed by five officers from the English army, the schout -conducted them to the city hall, where it was said the Director and the -burgomasters were waiting. - -It can well be fancied that every person in the city, save, perhaps, -Master Stuyvesant's family and servants, gathered around the city hall -to hear what might be going on, and there we speedily learned that the -Director had fallen into a rage, even going so far as to quarrel with -those other officials who had been his best friends. - -The visitors from the fleet did not stay overly long, and when they went -away it was whispered among the excited citizens that Governor Winthrop -had left a letter, which some of the burgomasters believed should be -read to the people. - - - - -MASTER STUYVESANT'S RAGE - - -It seemed, as we learned very shortly, that in his rage Master -Stuyvesant had torn the letter into little pieces claiming that it did -not concern the common people, and then it was that his own friends left -him in anger. - -Within half an hour the people insisted that the letter be demanded of -the Director, and five men were sent to Master Stuyvesant, claiming that -which Governor Winthrop had brought. - -[Illustration] - -It was Martin Kip who headed the messengers from the free men of New -Amsterdam, and he told me Master Stuyvesant was in a fine rage. He -stumped to and fro threatening, but finally showed in his hand the tiny -bits of paper, throwing them on the floor. - -Then some one of the house, I do not know who, picked up the pieces, -putting them together so that the words might be read, and Martin Kip, -speaking from the steps of the city hall, told us what had been written. - -I do not remember it all, but there was in the letter a promise that -the Dutch should not be driven out after the city was captured. They -would be allowed to remain, each man on his own land, free to come or go -as it pleased him best, and other Dutchmen were at liberty to live in -New Amsterdam with the same rights as belonged to any English man. - -[Illustration] - -It was all up with Master Stuyvesant after that. He did not cease to -storm and rage at those who refused to stand by the guns in the fort, -and threatened that he would hold the city till the last building in it -was destroyed; but what could he do alone? - - - - -THE END OF DUTCH RULE - - -When the three-days' truce was at an end, Colonel Nicolls landed three -more companies of the King's soldiers, and himself marched at their head -to join those who were encamped at the ferry-way. All the ships came -into position for opening fire upon the city, and it was time for Master -Stuyvesant to surrender, or have it done for him by those of us who were -not minded to make fools of ourselves. - -I have heard it said that he was near to being broken-hearted because of -having come to such a plight; but it was no worse for him than it had -been for the Swedish governor whom he bullied, and, by thus making -promises to the people, the English commander was showing himself more -of a man than had Director Stuyvesant, when he drove away every last -Swede out of their homes. - -[Illustration] - -Whoever gave the command to hoist the white flag over the fort in token -of surrender, I know not; but it was done before the English had time to -open fire, and New Amsterdam was no longer under Dutch rule. - -It was Monday, September 8th, in the year of our Lord, 1664, when Master -Stuyvesant, at the head of the hundred and fifty soldiers, marched from -the fort to take ship for Holland, and an hour later Colonel Nicolls -came in with seven companies of soldiers, who, instead of remaining to -eat us out of house and home, went at once on board the ships until they -could go into camp on the Long Island shore. - - - - -THE CITY OF NEW YORK - - -That same day Colonel Nicolls was chosen governor by the Dutch -themselves, and his first order was that the city be called New York in -honor of the Duke of York, who had really had charge of the matter. - -Next day came a message from the new governor, in which it was promised -that people from all lands might come into the City of New York, with -the same rights as any other; that there would be no change in the -affairs until an election by the people could be held, and that each man -might worship God in whatsoever way seemed to him best. - -We who had lived so long in the New World had seen the last of New -Amsterdam with its Dutch rulers, who knew no law but their own whims, -and now were we like men who have finally thrown off a heavy burden, -able to breathe freely once more. - -I would that I had enough of knowledge to set down in words all that I -have just told you; but I am ignorant of nearly everything, save furs -and bargaining with the Indians, therefore it is, that unless you shall -repeat what I have said, the people of this country may never hear the -story of Peter of New Amsterdam. - - - - -ELEMENTARY HISTORIES - - - BARNES'S NEW HISTORIES OF THE - UNITED STATES - -Elementary, $0.60; School $1.00 - -¶ In their new form these books are thoroughly up-to-date, both as to -contents and as to dress. 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