to add a word as to the goodness and convenience of the
waters; which are salt, brackish, or fresh, according to their
locality. There are in New Netherland four principal rivers;
the most southerly is usually called the South River, and the
bay at its entrance, Godyn's Bay. It is so called not because
it runs to the south, but because it is the most southerly
river in New Netherland. Another which this lies south of or
nearest to, and which is the most noted and the best, as
regards trade and population, is called Rio Montanjes, from
certain mountains, and Mauritius River, but generally, the
North River, because it reaches farthest north. The third is
the East River, so called because it runs east from the
Manathans. This is regarded by many not as a river but as a
Bay, because it is extremely wide in some places and connects
at both ends with the sea. We however consider it a river
and such it is commonly reckoned. The fourth is called the
Fresh River, because the water is for the most part fresh,
more so than the others. Besides these rivers, there are
many bays, havens and inlets, very convenient and useful,
some of which might well be classed among rivers. There are
numerous bodies of water inland, some large, others small,
besides navigable kills like rivers, and many creeks very
advantageous for the purpose of navigating through the
country, as the map of New Netherland will prove. There
are also various waterfalls and rapid streams, fit to erect
mills of all kinds upon for the use of man, and innumerable
small rivulets over the whole country, like veins in the body;
but they are all fresh water, except some on the sea shore,
(which are salt and fresh or brackish), very good both for
wild and domestic animals to drink. The surplus waters