The Story of Manhattan

TRADERS on

ach ship returned to Holland laden with costly furs which the Indians had traded for glass beads and strips of g

ship called the Tiger. This ship was anchored in the bay close by what is now called the B

Trading

not safe, for there were no houses or places of shelter; the winter was coming on, and the woods were filled with wild beasts. But Block and his men very soon built houses for themselves; rude and clumsy buildings to look at, but warm and comfortable within. They were the first ho

ip, and before another winter had come they had one larger than the Tiger. It

all the merchants combined into one company they might not have to give so many. So they did combine, and call

called Fort Manhattan. It was of wood, and did not take long to build because the traders did not intend to live in it a great while. They felt quite sure that all the furs w

d change, when a new company was formed in Holland; a great body of men this time, who had a vast amount of money to build ships and fit them out. This organization was the West India Company, and was to battle with Spain by land and by sea (for the Netherlands was at war with Spain) and was to carry on trade wi

es up the States of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. But its limits at this time wer

anch that we shall read. Colonists were to be carried to New Netherland from Holland; farms were to be laid out and cultivated; cities were to be built, and the West India Company was to have absolute control over all, and was to rule all the people. To do these things they had authority from the States-General of Holland, wh

States-Gener

uld be necessary to send people in sufficient numbers so that no matter how many were killed by the Indians the settlement would not be wiped out. Many inducements were offered, and men with their families soon began to flock to New Netherland. With the ship

re the year was out, Verhulst decided that the new country never would suit him, and he sailed away to Holland. Then

New Ne