trade such things for proper wares, I know not whether it is permitted
by the laws of the Company. I have now ordered from Holland almost all
necessaries; and I hope to pass through the winter, with hard and scanty
food.

The country yields many good things for the support of life, but they
are all too unfit and wild to be gathered. Better regulations should
be established, and people brought here who have the knowledge and
implements for seeking out all kinds of things in their season and for
securing and gathering them. No doubt this will gradually be done. In
the meanwhile, I wish the Honorable Directors to be courteously enquired
of, how I can best have the opportunity to possess a portion of land,
and (even at my own expense) to support myself upon it. For as long
as there is no more accommodation to be obtained here from the country
people, and I shall be compelled to order everything from the Fatherland
at great expense and with much risk and trouble, or else live here
upon these poor and hard rations alone, it will badly suit me and my
children. We want ten or twelve more farmers with horses, cows and
laborers in proportion, to furnish us with bread, milk products, and
suitable fruits. For there are convenient places which can be easily
protected and are very suitable, which can be bought from the savages
for trifling toys, or could be occupied without risk, because we have
more than enough shares which have never been abandoned but have been
always reserved for that purpose.

The business of furs is dull on account of the new war of the
Maechibaeys(1) against the Mohicans at the upper end of this river.
There have occurred cruel murders on both sides. The Mohicans have fled
and their lands are unoccupied and are very fertile and pleasant. It
grieves us that there are no people, and that there is no order from the
Honorable Directors to occupy the same. Much timber is cut here to carry
to the Fatherland, but the vessels are too few to take much of it. They
are making a windmill to saw lumber and we also have a gristmill. They
bake brick here, but it is very poor. There is good material for burning
lime, namely, oyster shells, in large quantities. The burning of
potash has not succeeded; the master and his laborers are all greatly
disappointed.

(1) Mohawks.

We are busy now in building a fort of good quarry stone, which is to be
found not far from here in abundance. May the Lord only build and watch