possessed by Netherlanders, and at their cost;
so that even at the present day, those natives of the country who are so
old as to recollect when the Dutch ships first came here, declare that
when they saw them, they did not know what to make of them, and could
not comprehend whether they came down from Heaven, or were of the Devil.
Some among them, when the first one arrived, even imagined it to be a
fish, or some monster of the sea, and accordingly a strange report of
it spread over the whole land. We have also heard the savages frequently
say, that they knew nothing of any other part of the world, or any other
people than their own, before the arrival of the Netherlanders. For
these reasons, therefore, and on account of the similarity of climate,
situation and fertility, this place is rightly called New Netherland.
It is situated on the northerly coast of America, in the latitude of 38,
39, 40, 41 and 42 degrees, or thereabouts, coast-wise. It is bounded
on the northeast by New England, and on the southwest by Virginia. The
coast runs nearly southwest and northeast, and is washed by the ocean.
On the north is the river of Canada, a large river running far into the
interior. The northwest side is still partially unknown.

The land is naturally fruitful, and capable of supporting a large
population, if it were judiciously allotted according to location. The
air is pleasant here, and more temperate than in the Netherlands. The
winds are changeable, and blow from all points, but generally from the
southwest and northwest; the former prevailing in summer, and the latter
in winter, at times very sharply, but constituting, nevertheless, the
greatest blessing to the country as regards the health of the people,
for being very strong and pure, it drives far inland or consumes all
damps and superfluous moisture. The coast is generally clean and sandy,
the beach detached and broken into islands. Eastward from the North
River lies Long Island, about forty leagues in length, forming a fine
wide river, which falls at either end into the ocean, and affording a
very convenient passage between the shores which is protected from the
dangers of the sea by a great number of good bays and other places of
anchorage, so that vessels even in winter can readily pass east and
west. Towards the south approaching the South River, there are several
inlets, but they are muddy and sandy, though after proper experiments
they could be used. Inside the