1609.

a year, the directors shall further pay to his wife two hundred guilders in cash; and thereupon they shall not be further liable to him or his heirs, unless he shall either afterward or within the year arrive and have found the passage good and suitable for the company to use; in which the directors shall reward the aforenamed Hudson for his dangers, trouble, and knowledge in their discretion, with which the before-mentioned Hudson is content. And in case the directors think proper to prosecute and continue the same voyage, it is stipulated and agreed with the aforenamed Hudson, that he shall make his residence in this country with his wife and children, and shall enter into the employment of no other than the company, and this at the discretion of the directors, who also promise to make him satisfied and content for such further service in all justice and equity. All without fraud or evil intent. In witness of the truth, two contracts are made hereof, of the same tenor, and are subscribed by both parties and also by Jodocus Hondius as interpreter and witness. Dated as above: Dirk van Os, J. Poppe, Henry Hudson. Jodocus Hondius, witness," Jan. 8. Henry Hudson sets sail in De Halve Maen (The Half Moon) with a crew of twenty English and Dutch sailors, accompanied by another vessel, the Good Hope,

March 25.

Sailing out of the Texel, Holland, Hudson steers northerly,

March 26.

The Half Moon doubles North Cape, at the northern end of Norway, and steers for Nova Zembla; but encounters too much ice to proceed, and he holds a council with his men as to whether it would be better to cross at the 50th parallel or follow Davis's strait, and they choose the former because of the greater warmth and lesser likelihood of encountering icebergs, April. The Good Hope mutinies and returns home, not caring to cross the April. The Half Moon secures a supply of fresh water at the Faroe Islands, May.

ocean,

and stands out for its voyage westward to America, The Half Moon meets some French fishing-boats on the cod banks,

and turns its course southward,

July 3. August.

The Half Moon arrives at Chesapeake bay, The Half Moon, having arrived in latitude 37 degrees, 45 minutes, in the neighborhood of Virginia, turns northward and skirts the coast until it finds a good entrance, 40 degrees, 45 minutes, north latitude; perceiving three great rivers at three o'clock in the afternoon, he stands for the northernmost, finding there a broad, deep channel, (Old style) Sept. 3.

1609.

Henry Hudson aboard the Half Moon passes through the Narrows, Sept. 6. The Half Moon is attacked by Indians, and John Coleman, one of his men, is killed. He is buried on Coleman's point at Sandy Hook, Sept. 6. The Half Moon enters New York harbor, perceiving it to be safe from severe winds, and rides at anchor for the night,

(Old style) Sept. 9. At 2 o'clock Henry Hudson weighs anchor in order to begin the ascent of the river bearing his name. He proceeds two leagues (about six miles) against the wind, and anchors again. Here twenty-eight canoes, filled with Indians, squaws and pappooses come out from the shore, smoking great tobacco pipes of yellow copper and bearing earthen pots with meat therein. Hudson secures oysters and beans by barter being wary of their actions as savages, (Old style) Sept. 12. Hudson weighs anchor at 7 o'clock in the morning, the day being fair and the wind northerly, turning four miles into the river, when the tide being done he anchors. Four canoes draw up close, but he allows no one to come aboard. He buys great stores of oysters for trifles. At night he sets the variation of the compass, finding it to be thirteen degrees. In the afternoon he weighs anchor and drifts with the flood tide for two and a half leagues, when, at a high point of land, with five fathoms of water, he anchors for the night, the bottom being soft ooze, (Old style) Sept. 13. The fovr teenth, in the morning being very faire weather, the wind southeast, we sayled vp the Riuer twelue leagues, had fiue fathoms and fiue fathoms and a quarter lesse; and came to a streight between two points, and had eight, nine and ten fathoms: and it trended north-east by north, one league, and we had twelue, thirteene, and fourteene fathoms. The Riuer is a mile. broad: there is very high land on both sides. Then wee went vp north-west, a league and an halfe deepe water. Then northeast by north fiue miles, then north-west by north two leagues, and anchored. The land grew very high and mountainous. The river is full of fish, (Old style) Sept. 14. "The fifteenth, in the morning was misty vntil the Sunne arose: then it cleared. So wee weighed with the wind at south, and ran vp into the Riuer, twentie leagues, passing by high Mountains. Wee had a very good depth, as six, seven, eight, nine, twelue and thirteen fathoms, and great store of salmons in the

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Riuer. This morning our two Sauages got out of a port and swam away. After we were under sayle they called to vs in scorne. At night we came to other Mountains, which lie from the Riuer side. There we found very louing people, and very old men where wee were well vsed. Our Boat went to fish, and caught great store of very good fish." Sept. 15. The sixteenth, faire and very hot weather. In the morning our Boat went againe to fishing, but could catch but few, by reason their Canoes had beene there all night. This morning the people came aboord, and brought vs eares of Indian Corne, and Pompions, and Tobacco: which wee bought for trifles. Wee rode still all day, and filled fresh water; at night wee weighed and went two leagues higher, and had shoald water: so wee anchored till day," Sept. 16. The seuenteenth, faire Sun-shining weather, and very hot. In the morning as soon as the Sun was vp, we set sayle, and run up six leagues higher, and found shoalds in the middle of the channell, and small Ilands, but seuen fathoms water on both sides. Toward night we borrowed so neere the shoare, that we grounded: so we layed out our small anchor, and heaued off againe. Then we borrowed on the banke in the channell, and came aground againe: while the flood ran we heaued off againe, and anchored all night," Sept. 17. "The eighteenth, in the morning was faire weather, and we rode still. In the after-noone our Master's Mate went on land with an old Sauage, a Gouernor of the Countrey; who carried him to his house and made him good cheere," Sept. 18. "The nineteenth, was faire and hot weather: at the flood, being neere eleuen of the clocke, we weighed, and ran higher vp two leagues aboue the shoalds, and had no lesse water than fiue fathoms : we anchored, and rode in eight fathoms. The people of the countrie came flocking aboord, and brought vs Grapes, and Pompions, which we bought for trifles. And many brought vs Beuers skinnes, and Otters skinnes, which wee bought for Beades, Kniues, and Hatchets. So we rode there all night," Sept. 19. "The twentieth, in the morning was fare weather. Our Masters Mate with four men more went vp with our Boat to sound the Riuer, and found two leagues above vs but two fathoms water, and the channel very narrow; and aboue that place seuen or eight fathoms. Toward night they returned; and we rode still all night,"

Sept. 20.