CHAPTER II.
Containing an account of a mighty Ark which floated,
under the protection of St. Nicholas, from
Holland to Gibbet Island—the descent of the
strange animals therefrom—a great victory, and
a description of the ancient village of Communipaw.
The delectable accounts given by the
great Hudson, and Master Juet, of the
country they had discovered, excited not
a little talk and speculation among the
good people of Holland. Letters-patent
were granted by government to an association
of merchants, called the West
India Company, for the exclusive trade
on Hudson river, on which they erected
a trading-house called Fort Aurania, or
Orange, from whence did spring the
great city of Albany. But I forbear to
dwell on the various commercial and colonizing
enterprises which took place;
among which was that of Mynheer Adrian
Block, who discovered and gave a name
to Block Island, since famous for its
cheese—and shall barely confine myself
to that which gave birth to this renowned
city.
It was some three or four years after
the return of the immortal Hendrick,
that a crew of honest Low Dutch
