TO THE READER.

READER, I Have here thorough the Instigation of divers Persons in England, and elsewhere, presented you with a Brief but true Relation of a known unknown part of America. The known part which is either inhabited, or lieth near the Sea, I have described to you, and have writ nothing, but what I have been an eye witness to all or the greatest part of it: Neither can I safely say, was I willing to exceed, but was rather willing the place it self should exceed my Commendation, which I question not but will be owned by those that shall travel thither: For the unknown part, which is either some places lying to the Northward yet undiscovered by any English, or the Bowels of the earth not yet opened, though the Natives tell us of Glittering Stones, Diamonds, or Pearl in the one, and the Dutch hath boasted of Gold and Silver in the other; yet I shall not feed your expectation with any thing of that nature; but leave it till a better discovery shall make way for such a Relation. In the mean time accept of this from him who desireth to deal impartially with every

one.

DANIEL DENTON.

BRIEF RELATION

OF

NEW YORK,

WITH THE PLACES THEREUNTO ADJOYNING,

FORMERLY CALLED

THE NEW NETHERLANDS, &c.

THAT Tract of Land formerly called The New Netherlands, doth Contain all that Land which lieth in the North parts of America, betwixt. New-England and Mary-land in Virginia, the length of which Northward into the Countrey, as it hath not been fully discovered, so it is not certainly known. The bredth of it is about two hundred miles: The principal Rivers, within this Tract, are Hudsons River, Raritan River, and Delewerbay River. The chief Islands are the Manahatans-Island, Long Island and Staten Island.

And first to begin with the Manahatans Islands, (see Note 1,) so called by the Indians, it lieth within land betwixt the degrees of 41. and 42. of North latitude, and is about 14 miles long, and two broad. It is bounded with Long Island on the South, with Staten Island on the West, on the North with the Main Land: And with Conecticut Colony on the East-side of it; only a part of the Main Land belonging to New York Colony, where several Towns and Villages are setled, being about thirty miles in bredth, doth intercept the

Manahatans Island, and the Colony of Conecticut before mentioned.

New York is setled upon the West end of the aforesaid Island, having that small arm of the Sea, which divides it from Long Island on the South side of it, which runs away Eastward to New England and is Navigable, though dangerous. For about ten miles from New York is a place called Hell-Gate, (see Note 2,) which being a narrow passage, there runneth a violent stream both upon flood and ebb, and in the middle lieth some Islands of Rocks, which the Current sets so violently upon, that it threatens present shipwreck ; and upon the flood is a large Whirlpool, which continually sends forth a hideous roaring, enough to affright any stranger from passing any further, and to wait for some Charon to conduct him through; yet to those that are well acquainted little or no danger; yet a place of great defence against any enemy coming in that way, which a small Fortification would absolutely prevent, and necessitate them to come in at the West end of Long Island by Sandy Hook where Nutten (see Note 3,) Island doth force them within Command of the Fort at New York, which is one of the best Pieces of Defence in the North parts of America.

New York is built most of Brick and Stone, and covered with red and black Tile, and the Land being high, it gives at a distance a pleasing Aspect to the spectators. (see Note 4.) The Inhabitants consist most of English and Dutch, and have a considerable Trade with the Indians, for Bevers, Otter, Raccoon