An Account of New Amsterdam in 1649

I found my source at: http://www.americanjourneys.org/
Here you can search any early settlement and choose from a variety of perspectives and documents to read.

I chose "A Description of the New Netherlands" by Adriaen van der Donck, who was a Dutch Colonist and the first lawyer on the banks of the Hudson River. He was part of the Rensselaerwyck colony which had a large amount of land on either side of the river and was based at Fort Orange, now known as Albany. The document was written in 1649 and has often been overlooked because it had not been translated into English until more recently.


The title page of his 'book' says:

"The fruitfulness and natural advantages of the country, and the desirable opportunities which is presents, within itself, and from abroad, for the subsistence of man; which are not surpassed elsewhere. Together with remarks of the character and peculiar customs of the savages, or natives of the land; also, a particular description of the wonderful nature and habits of the beaver. With a dialogue between a Netherland Patriot and a New Netherlander on the advantages of the country."

The description of New Amsterdam is over 50 pages long alone, and he begins by telling the reader where in the world the Americas are, how they got there and who first discovered the land as well as why they named New Amsterdam as they did.
He talks about the area New Amsterdam covers and talks of the surrounding water areas and says they are "convenient and safe anchorage for ships" as well as the fact that the area is good for whale fishing. "But they are not as fat as Greenland whales. If, however, the fishery was well managed, if would be profitable."


Like most accounts from explorers in this time he concentrates a lot on the resources available. "Those lands are now mostly overgrown with different kinds of trees and grape-vines; having many plums, hazel-nuts and strawberries, and much grass. The waters abound with oysters, having many convenient banks and beds where they may be taken."

What most interested me about the account was how he spoke about the Native Americans. It was in stark contrast to most English accounts, as he does not seem to overly criticise them or continually refer to them as savages. He tells a short story of an "Indian, whom I have known" implying that he took the time to communicate with. However, despite the fact the Natives know the land well they do not entirely trust them when they are told that the rivers around the country "taste different" and are said to cure some illnesses. "As this is intimated by the Indians, therefore we do not place full confidence in the information, not knowing the facts; yet we redeem the reports probable." They only deemed it to be true because of the minerals that were in the water and that it would probably retain the flavour.

On the other hand some of the Dutch Christians even adopted some of the Indian customs because they saw that they made sense, such as the yearly custom of burning the woods, plains and meadows during the fall. "This practice is named by us and the Indians 'bush burning.'"

http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/aj&CISOPTR=12072

This is the start of his description of the Native Americans and it is honest, saying exactly as they are. All the same as other people, with the exception that they are all of good health and are very rarely ill or have any disabilities.
"It is true that they appear singular and strange to our nation, because their complexion, speech and dress are so different, but this, on aquaintance, is disregarded."
Overall the Dutch seem to have a more open mind and are more accepting of the Native inhabitants, a trait that is still well known among the Dutch today.