on the origin of
the American Indian.

The second book contains an account of Hudson's discovery of the river
that bears his name and of the settlement of New Amsterdam.

A book is given to each of the first two Dutch governors, and three
books to the rule of Peter Stuyvesant. The history then terminates with
the surrender of New Amsterdam to the British.

The selections which appear here have been chosen for their rich humor
rather than for their historical value, although, in his quaint way,
Irving gives us a picture of the early Dutch settlers that is in many
respects remarkably true to life. His exaggerations are usually so
noticeable that it is not difficult to separate truth from fiction.

THE FOUNDING OF NEW AMSTERDAM

It was some three or four years after the return of the immortal
Hendrick that a crew of honest, Low Dutch colonists set sail from the
city of Amsterdam for the shores of America.

The ship in which these illustrious adventurers set sail was called the
_Goede Vrouw_, or Good Woman, in compliment to the wife of the president
of the West India Company, who was allowed by everybody (except her
husband) to be a sweet-tempered lady. It was in truth a most gallant
vessel, of the most approved Dutch construction, and made by the ablest
ship carpenters of Amsterdam, who it is well known always model their
ships after the fair forms of their countrywomen. Accordingly, it had
one hundred feet in the beam, one hundred feet in the keel, and one
hundred feet from the bottom of the sternpost to the tafferel.

The architect, who was somewhat of a religious man, far from decorating
the ship with pagan idols, such as Jupiter, Neptune, or Hercules (which
heathenish abominations I have no doubt occasion the misfortunes and
shipwreck of many a noble vessel)--he, I say, on the contrary, did
laudably erect for a head a goodly image of Saint Nicholas, equipped
with a low, broad-brimmed hat, a huge pair of Flemish trunk hose, and a
pipe that reached to the end of the bow-sprit. Thus gallantly furnished,
the stanch ship floated sideways, like a majestic goose, out of the
harbor of the great city of Amsterdam, and all the bells that were not
otherwise engaged rang a triple bobmajor on the joyful occasion.

The voyage was uncommonly prosperous, for, being under the especial care
of the ever-revered Saint Nicholas, the Goede Vrouw seemed to be endowed
with qualities unknown to common vessels. Thus she made as much l