as pitched the tent of the men of battle of
the Manhattoes, who, being the inmates of the metropolis, composed
the lifeguards of the governor. These were commanded by the valiant
Stoffel Brinkerhoof, who, whilom had acquired such immortal fame at
Oyster Bay; they displayed as a standard a beaver _rampant_ on a
field of orange, being the arms of the province, and denoting the
persevering industry and the amphibious origin of the Nederlands.

"On their right hand might be seen the vassals of that renowned
Mynheer, Michael Paw, who lorded it over the fair regions of
ancient Pavonia, and the lands away south even unto the Navesink
mountains, and was moreover patroon of Gibbet Island. His standard
was borne by his trusty squire, Cornelius Van Vorst; consisting of
a huge oyster _recumbent_ upon a sea-green field; being the
armorial bearings of his favorite metropolis Communipaw. He brought
to the camp a stout force of warriors, heavily armed, being each
clad in ten pair of linsey-woolsey breeches, and overshadowed by
broad-brimmed beavers, with short pipes twisted in their hat-bands.
These were the men who vegetated in the mud along the shores of
Pavonia, being of the race of genuine copperheads, and were fabled
to have sprung from oysters.

"At a little distance was encamped the tribe of warriors who came
from the neighborhood of Hell-gate. These were commanded by the Suy
Dams, and the Van Dams,--incontinent hard swearers, as their names
betoken. They were terrible looking fellows, clad in broad-skirted
gaberdines, of that curious colored cloth called thunder and
lightning,--and bore as a standard three devil's darning-needles,
_volant_, in a flame-colored field.

"Hard by was the tent of the men of battle from the marshy borders
of the Waale-Boght and the country thereabouts. These were of a
sour aspect, by reason that they lived on crabs, which abound in
these parts. They were the first institutors of that honorable
order of knighthood called _Fly-market shirks_, and, if tradition
speak true, did likewise introduce the far-famed step in dancing
called 'double trouble.' They were commanded by the fearless
Jacobus Varra Vanger,--and had, moreover, a jolly band of
Breuckelen ferry-men, who performed a brave concerto on conch
shells.

"But I