Document: New Netherland in 1627. Letter from Isaack de Rasieres to Samuel Blommaert, found in the Royal library at the Hague, and transmitted by Dr. M.F.A.G. Campbell to the N.Y. Historical Society. Image 010

When a woman here addicts herself to fornication, and the husband comes to know it, he thrashes her soundly, and if he wishes to get rid of her, he summons the Sachem with her friends, before whom he accuses her. And if she be found guilty, the Sachem commands one to cut off her hair in order that she may be held up before the world as a whore, which they call poerochque; and then the husband takes from her everything that she has, and drives her out of the house. If there be children, they remain with her, for they are fond of them beyond measure. They reckon consanguinity to the eighth degree, and revenge an injury from generation to generation unless it be atoned for; and even then there is mischief enough, for they are very revengeful. And when a man is unfaithful, the wife accuses him before the Sachem, which most frequently happens when the wife has a preference for another man. The husband being found guilty, the wife is permitted to draw off his right shoe and left stocking (which they make of deer or elk skins, which they know how to prepare very broad and soft, and wear in the winter time); she then tears off the lappet that covers his private parts, gives him a kick behind, and so drives him out of the house; and then “Adam” scampers off. It would seem that they are very libidinous; in this respect very unfaithful to each other; whence it results that they breed but few children, so that it is a wonder when a woman has three or four children, particularly by any one man whose name can be certainly known. They must not have intercourse with those of their own family within the third degree, or it would be considered an abominable thing. Their political government is democratic. They have a chief Sachem whom they choose by election, who generally is he who is richest in sewan, though of less consideration in other respects. When any stranger comes, they bring him to the Sachem. On first meeting they do not speak; they smoke a pipe of tobacco. That being done, the Sachem asks, “Whence do you come?” The stranger then states that, and further what he has to say, before all who are present or choose to come. That being done, the Sachem announces his opinion to the people, and if they agree thereto, they give all together a sigh, “He!” and if they do not approve, they keep silence, and all come close to the Sachem, and each sets forth his opinion till they agree. That being done, they come all together again to the stranger, to whom the Sachem then announces what they have determined, with the reasons moving them thereto. All travelers who stop over night come to the Sachem, if they have no acquaintances there, and are entertained by the expenditure of as much sewan as is allowed for that purpose. Therefore, the Sachem generally have three or four wives, each of whom has to furnish her own seed-corn. The Sachem has his fixed fine of sewan for fighting and causing blood to flow.