nigh destroyed this good hope, in manner following--

(1) East River, apparently.

(2) The colony of Hackensack, belonging to Meyndert
Meyndertsen van Keren and others.

(3) Cornelis Melyn's colony embraced all Staten Island
except De Vries's plantation.

THE CAUSES OF THE NEW NETHERLAND WAR AND THE SEQUEL THEREOF.

We have already stated that the cause of the population of New
Netherland was the liberty to trade with the Indians. We shall now prove
that it also is the cause of its ruin, producing two contrary effects,
and that not without reason as shall appear from the following.

This liberty then which in every respect should have been most
gratefully received, of which use should have been made as of a precious
gift, was very soon perverted to a great abuse. For every one thought
that now the time had come to make his fortune, withdrew himself from
his comrade, as if holding him suspect and the enemy of his gains, and
sought communication with the Indians from whom it appeared his profit
was to be derived. That created first a division of power of
dangerous consequence, in opposition to Their High Mightinesses'
motto(1)--produced altogether too much familiarity with the Indians
which in a short time brought forth contempt, usually the father of
hate--not being satisfied with merely taking them into their houses in
the customary manner, but attracting them by extraordinary attention,
such as admitting them to the table, laying napkins before them,
presenting wine to them and more of that kind of thing, which they did
not receive like Esop's man, but as their due and desert, insomuch that
they were not content but began to hate when such civilities were not
shewn them. To this familiarity and freedom succeeded another evil. As
the cattle usually roamed through the woods without a herdsman, they
frequently came into the corn of the Indians which was unfenced on all
sides, committing great damage there; this led to frequent complaints on
their part and finally to revenge on the cattle without sparing even the
horses, which were valuable in this country. Moreover many of ours took
the Indians into service, making use of them in their houses and thus,
whilst they were being employed, laying open before those Indians our
entire circumstances; and sometimes becoming weary of their work, they
took leg-bail and stole much more than the amount of their wages.
This freedom caused still gre