is cruise he discovered the mouths of the Housatonic and
of the Connecticut. He ascended this latter stream, which he called
Fresh River, several leagues. Indian villages were picturesquely
scattered along the shores, and the birch canoes of the Indians were
swiftly paddled over the mirrored waters. All else was silence and
solitude. The gloom of the forest overshadowed the banks and the
numerous water-fowl were undisturbed upon the stream. The natives were
friendly but timid. They were overawed by the presence of the gigantic
structure which had invaded their solitude.

Continuing his cruise to the eastward he reached the main ocean, and
thus found that the land upon his left was an island, now known as
Long Island. Still pressing forward he discovered the great
Narragansett Bay, which he thoroughly explored, and then continued his
course to Cape Cod, which, it will be remembered, Sir Henry Hudson had
already discovered, and which he had called New Holland.

Intelligence was promptly transmitted to Holland of these discoveries
and the United Company, under whose auspices the discoveries had been
made, adopted vigorous measures to secure, from the States-General,
the exclusive right to trade with the natives of those wide realms. A
very emphatic ordinance was passed, granting this request, on the 27th
of March, 1614.

This ordinance stimulated to a high degree the spirit of commercial
enterprise. The province was called New Netherland, and embraced the
territory within the 40th and 45th degrees of north latitude. All
persons, excepting the United "New Netherland Company," were
prohibited from trading within those limits, under penalty of the
confiscation of both vessels and cargoes, and also a fine of fifty
thousand Dutch ducats.

The Company immediately erected a trading-house, at the head of
navigation of the Hudson river, which as we have mentioned, was then
called Prince Maurice's River. This house was on an island, called
Castle Island, a little below the present city of Albany, and was
thirty-six feet long and twenty-six feet wide, and was strongly built
of logs. As protection from European buccaneers rather than from the
friendly Indians, it was surrounded by a strong stockade, fifty feet
square. This was encircled by a moat eighteen feet wide. The whole was
defended by several cannon and was garrisoned by twelve soldiers.

This port, far away in the loneliness of the wilderness, was called
Fort Nassau. Jac