humble homes more true happiness was found than is now
experienced in some of the palatial mansions which grace the gorgeous
avenues of the city. About this time three ships arrived, containing a
large number of families with farming implements, and over a hundred
head of cattle. To prevent the cattle from being lost in the woods,
they were pastured on Governor's, then called Nutten's Island.

And now the tide of emigration began pretty rapidly to increase. The
Dutch transported emigrants for twelve and a half cents a day, during
the voyage, for both passage and food. They also gave them, upon
reaching the colony, as much land as they were able to cultivate. With
a wise toleration, which greatly honored them, the fullest religious
freedom of speech and worship was allowed.

A strong block-house, surrounded with palisades of red cedar, was
thrown up on the south point of Manhattan Island, and was called Fort
Amsterdam. This became the headquarters of the government and the
capital of the extended, though not very clearly defined, realm of New
Netherland.

An unfortunate occurrence now took place which eventually involved the
colony in serious trouble. An Indian, from the vicinity of
Westchester, came with his nephew, a small boy, bringing some beaver
skins to barter with the Dutch at the fort. The narrow trail through
the forest, led in a southeast direction, along the shore of the East
River, till it reached what was called Kip's Bay. Then, diverging to
the west, it passed near the pond of fresh water, which was about half
way between what are now Broadway and Chatham streets. This pond, for
a century or more, was known as the Kolck or the Collect.

When the Indians reached this point, they were waylaid by three white
men, robbed of their furs, and the elder one was murdered. The boy
made his escape and returned to his wilderness home, vowing to revenge
the murder of his uncle. It does not appear that the Dutch authorities
were informed of this murder. They certainly did not punish the
murderers, nor make any attempt to expiate the crime, by presents to
the Indians.

"The island of Manhattan," wrote De Rassieres at this time,

"is full of trees and in the middle rocky. On the north side
there is good land in two places, where two farmers, each
with four horses, would have enough to do without much
grubbing or clearing at first. The grass is good in the
forests and valleys; but when made