NEW YORK.                                 109
 

CHAPTER III.
 

In which is set forth the true art of making a
bargain—together with the miraculous escape of
a great Metropolis in a fog—and the biography
of certain heroes of Communipaw.

Having, in the trifling digression which conclu¬
ded the last chapter, discharged the filial duty,
which the city of New York owed to Communi¬
paw, as being the mother settlement; and having
given a faithful picture of it as it stands at pre¬
sent, I return with a soothing sentiment of self-
approbation, to dwell upon its early history. The
crew of the Goede Vrouw being soon reinforced
by fresh importations from Holland, the settlement
went jollily on, increasing in magnitude and pros¬
perity. The neighbouring Indians in a short time
became accustomed to the uncouth sound of the
Dutch language, and an intercourse gradually took
place between them and the new comers. The
Indians were much given to long talks, and the
Dutch to long silence—in this particular, there¬
fore, they accommodated each other completely.
The chiefs would make long speeches about the
big bull, the wabash and the great spirit, to which
the others would listen very attentively, smoke

VOL. I.                                     K