The Story of Manhattan

FIRST of the D

ose hair was turning gray, whose eyes were blac

kings have had. To be sure, in matters of extreme importance he was supposed to refer to the Company in Holland. But Holland was far away, farther away th

hem in exchange some beads, some brass ornaments, some bits of glass and some strips of colored cloth;

bookkeeper at the Company's warehouse, and who worked very hard. Then came the schout-fiscal, who worked still harder, being half sheriff, half attorney-gen

uild a solid fort on the spot where the fur-traders' stockade had stood. This he called Fort Amsterdam. It was surrounded by cedar palisades, and was large enough to shelter all the people of the little colony in ca

ing of th

e island into farms, which in those days were called "bouweries." A road which led throu

an who would go from Holland and take with him fifty persons to make their homes in New Netherland. The grants of land, which were really large farms, stretched away in all directions over the territory of New Netherland. B

nd of the trees, planted seeds, gathered the ripened grain, and

Lords of the Manors were to act under the direction of the Governor. The farms est

to do was to collect the furs of animals, for these

l to make themselves rich, and very little for New Netherland. They traded in furs, notwiths

d was wrecked on the coast of England, and Minuit was detained and accused of unlawfully trading in the territory of the King of England. This was not the first time that the English had laid claim to the Dutch lands in America. Charles I.

y discover it, but must visit it continually, and even buy it from any persons who should be settled there. Even if the Ca

rn to Holland. But he was no longer Governor of New Netherland, for hi

n New York,