polypody, white
mullein, priest's shoe, garden and sea-beach orach, water germander,
tower-mustard, sweet flag, sassafras, crowfoot, platain, shepherd's
purse, mallows, wild marjoram, crane's bill, marsh-mallows, false
eglantine, laurel, violet, blue flag, wild indigo, solomon's seal,
dragon's blood, comfrey, milfoil, many sorts of fern, wild lilies
of different kinds, agrimony, wild leek, blessed thistle, snakeroot,
Spanish figs which grow out of the leaves,(2) tarragon and numerous
other plants and flowers; but as we are not skilled in those things, we
cannot say much of them; yet it is not to be doubted that experts would
be able to find many simples of great and different virtues, in which we
have confidence, principally because the Indians know how to cure very
dangerous and perilous wounds and sores by roots, leaves and other
little things.

(2) Probably the prickly pear.

It is certain that the Indigo silvestris grows here spontaneously
without human aid. It could be easily cultivated if there were people
who would undertake it; at least, the other species would grow very well
and yield a good profit. We have seen proof of this in the colony of
Renselaerswyck, though it was all sown too late and upon a barren rock
where there was little earth. It came up very well, but in consequence
of the drought turned very yellow and withered, and was neglected;
nevertheless it was evident that if it were well covered it would
succeed. Madder plants also would undoubtedly grow well both in field
and gardens, and better than in Zeeland.

There may be discovered casually or by little search, different
minerals, upon some of which tests have been made according to our
limited means, and which are found good. We have attempted several
times to send specimens of them to the Netherlands, once with Arent van
Corenben by way of New Haven and of England, but the ship was wrecked
and no tidings of it have ever been received.(1) After that Director
William Kieft also had many different specimens with him in the ship the
Princess, but they were lost in her with him.(2) The mountains and mines
nevertheless remain, and are easily to be found again whenever it may be
thought proper to go to the labor and expense. In New England they have
already progressed so far as to make castings of iron pots, tankards,
balls and the like out of their minerals, and we firmly believe all
that is wanting here is to have a beginning made; for there