The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...

4 JOURNAL OF NEW NETIHERLAND.
ships twenty five miles up1 and of common barks even to the
falls, from the river Mauritius off to beyond the Fresh river
stretches a Canal that forms an Island, forty miles long, called
Long Island, which is the ordinary passage from N. England to
Virginia having on both sides many harbours to' anchor in so
that people make no difficulty about navigating it in winter.
The Country is generally covered with trees, except a few valleys
and some large Flats of Seven or Eight miles and less; the trees
are as in Europe-viz. Oak, Hickory, Chestnut, Vines. The
animals are also of the same species as ours, except Lions and
some other strange beasts, many Bears, abundance of Wolves
which harm nobody but the small cattle, Elks and Deer in
abundance, Foxes, Beavers, Otters, Minx and such like. The
birds, which are natural to the Country are Turkeys like ours,
Swans, Geese of three sorts, Ducks, Teals, Cranes, Herons, Bitterns, two sorts of Heath fowls or Pheasants. The River fish is
like that of Europe, viz. Carp, Sturgeon, Salmon, Pike, Perch,
Roach, Eel, &c-In the Salt waters are found Codfish, Shellfish,
Herring and so forth, also abundance of oysters and muscles.
The Indians are of ordinary stature, Strong and broad
shouldered; olive color, light and nimble of foot, subtle in disposition, of few words which they.previously well consider,
hypocritical, treacherous, vindictive; brave and obstinate in
self defence, in time of need right resolute to die. They seem to
despise all the torments that can be inflicted on them without
once uttering a sigh-go almost naked except a lap which hangs
before their nakedness, and on the shoulders a deer skin or a
mantle, a fathom square of woven Turkey feathers or peltries
sewed together, they make use now greatly of Duffels, Cloths
Blue or Red, in consequence of the frequent visits of the
Christians. In winter they make shoes of Deer Skins, manufactured after their fashion. Except their chiefs, they have
generally but one wife whom they frequently change according
to caprice; she must do all the work, as well corn planting as
wood cutting and whatever else is to be done. They are divided
into various nations. They differ even in Language, which
1 Dutch miles one of which is equal to three English: Tr.