Navesink; A Historical Novel
1614 Steel, saws, needles and adzes
Ashore it looked massive, but once in the water much smaller.
But it was afloat, and everybody was truly delighted to see the result of their hard work in its intended environment.
Navoo climbed the shore embankment to get a view of the whole operation, quietly observing the fruits of his labor over the last winter.
Right ashore, next to the boat in the water, was the building way which had allowed the boat to slide into the water. Navoo wondered if this was a boat or a ship.
Occasionally the Dutchmen would call it a boot (still pronounced boat) and at other times a schip and he was confused why they used different names. It was smaller than the ships that had traded in the country and then left last fall, but it was much bigger than the sloop that they had used to visit the family on the Navesink. It was sufficiently large to sleep below the deck and it had a flat deck and bulwarks like the big ships. It had only one mast, but a very great one and fitting it on the boat had taken the entire construction crew using lots of ropes, blocks and something called a bok.
He had learned so many words over the winter, and many other things. When he got back from the Navesink with Meneer Janszoon, and Piet and Guus, Meneer Block had already started to lay out the construction yard. The local Lenape had helped build a few wigwams to shelter the crew during the winte, and under their direction, the Lenape had started to haul timber into the yard.
There was a saw pit where they had started the back breaking work of sawing planks. After watching the crew work with the adzes, he had offered to join in and became quite adept in their use. Meneer Janszoon gave him his own adze head, which he fitted with a handle he made himself with a trekmes. He learned to sharpen the adze to a keenness that exceeded the sharpness of a fresh flint, but much stronger than stone so he could work wood with force and speed. He found the tool allowed him to create things he had never even thought of before. They also had a trunnel lathe that one person turned while another cut the trunnels used to fasten the planks. The trunnels were fitted in holes drilled with a boor.
The plank seams were made watertight with breeuw, a mixture of fibers and something called teer which was a black material like pine tar, but needed to be heated to make it soft. It was pounded into the seams with its own tools.
Strangely, while doing it, it all made sense. Just as a spear had a logical use in hunting and killing animals, all these tools had a logical use in creating the ship. Tools were inextricably linked to the object and the object, in turn, defined the human.
Having used the tools and created the Dutch object, he wondered if he was still Lenape or now also part Nederlander, or both. He liked the thought of being both, it could only help him in the future. He had been thinking about his future. This strange new world was presenting opportunities and he wanted to participate in it and maybe even be a leader in it. He certainly spent time studying leaders.
As leaders, he very much respected Meneer Block and Meneer Janszoon. They were excellent men and reminded him of the finest Lenape leaders he had encountered. They were clearly in charge, but you hardly ever felt it. They just expected their people were going to do what they had to do, and when they did not, they dealt with it very firmly. It resulted in a very disciplined construction team.
His mind quickly flashed back to Nutimus burying his axe into Orechton’s neck. He now knew it was a leadership move, and from Nutimus’ point of view it was very effective. In the following years Nutimus effortlessly led the family, and other families respected him. Especially once the story of Orechton’s demise spread along the river and bay shore. In the end it was not much different from the way Meneer Block and Meneer Janszoon dealt with discipline issues. After all, Meneer Janszoon had whipped the matroos who had not behaved properly towards Pahki. That matroos was no longer here, sent away last fall on the last ship to depart. Good riddance. That whipping certainly made everybody pay more attention. It made everybody work harder for a while too.
Navoo did not need reminders like that though, he liked working hard. The harder he worked, the more he learned. So far it had not made him a leader, he was definitely the lowest in the chain of command, and often the matrozen ordered him around or forced him to do the most unpleasant tasks such as being the pit man in the saw pit. The pit man got all the sawdust in his eyes, and it was even hard to breathe. When the matrozen were working together they would switch, but when he had to work with a matroos he was always in the pit. Whenever possible, Navoo would team up with one of the other Lenape workers when they were assigned to the sawpit.
At this stage besides Meneer Block and Meneer Janszoon, there were eight Dutchmen and five Lenape that worked on the boat every day. The other Lenapes on the crew were now a good crowd. Early on, whenever a Lenape worker did not pull his weight, Meneer Janszoon simply told him to leave, for there were plenty other eager volunteers. Some spoke better Dutch than Navoo, and together they could help each other translating words they did not know or needed reminding on. He missed Pahki. Initially all the workers had been single, but as the fall progressed, the Lenape crew’s wives had joined them, living together in a wigwam where the wives cooked for the men. There were also some kids. Navoo was generously included in the meals, but by the early spring he was the only single adult in the Lenape crew.
The Dutchmen lived in three wigwams. Meneer Block and Meneer Janszoon lived in one wigwam and the Lenape wives also prepared their food. The rest of the crew lived in the other two wigwams. Early in the fall, a number of the crewmen had found their own Lenape wives and the two wigwams had settled in their own routine.
There also was a shelter made of thick planks and logs. It contained all the valuables rescued from the ship, and was always under guard by one of the matrozen. Early on there had been a problem with theft, and Meneer Block had met with the local Chiefs to explain that he was here to trade and could not accept theft and that his matrozen had been ordered to use their guns to shoot anybody who approached the shelter. Unfortunately, some Lenapes did not heed the warning; after one intruder had been shot delicate discussions with the chiefs and the exchange of goodwill tokens were needed to re-establish the peace.
While Navoo did not want for anything, he occasionally wondered if the Dutchmen were taking advantage of him and the other Lenapes. Meneer Block did provide food whenever needed, and there was plenty of firewood, whether from boat construction scrap or quickly cut with axes and saws. Navoo had a knife and an adze of his own and a few needles. The other Lenapes also had gathered some visitors goods, and the wives shared a very nice cooking pot, a knife, some needles and some bowls. The matrozen worked for Meneer Block and he provided for their daily needs, but they did not appear to receive any goods in trade. The Lenapes had decided not to ask for anything more right now, since they all felt they were learning things that they could take advantage of when they returned to their villages.
During the coldest winter days, when working outside was too difficult, the crew taught him to sew and to work on sails. He had learned to use the steel needles, and when Meneer Janszoon had allowed him to take some scrap cloth, he had sewn a coat for himself which he was now decorating.
While not unhappy, Navoo did feel a little alone, being single and the only Lenape from the south side of the Bay, which was probably why he had decided to take some distance from the boat launching festivities.
He particularly wished Pahki were here. She was so much better at making friends and with her he would never feel lonely anyway. At the end of the winter when the ice had cleared and there were a few sunny days, two of Quippa’s sons and the woman who had slept with Piet had shown up at the boatyard. Quippa had sent the two men to provide Navoo with news from the Navesink and to get an update on him and the boat construction for herself.
The woman who had slept with Piet had asked to join them to see if she could marry Piet. Unfortunately, Piet had already taken a wife from the local tribe and was no longer available.
Navoo was delighted to hear his family and Pahki were doing well, and provided a tour of the construction. Quippa’s sons were known to be jolly but capable fellows who keenly observed the operation and took it all in with silent bemusement. Undoubtedly, they would provide an accurate report to Quippa, but they did not exhibit the level of enthusiasm Navoo brougth to his explanations. Meneer Janszoon was equally delighted to be reunited with the people he met last fall and made sure the visitors were well taken care of. When the weather looked sufficiently stable for the return voyage, Navoo, Meneer Block, Meneer Janszoon and Piet and Guus sent them off with small presents, best wishes for all and a promise that the boat’s first voyage would be a visit back to the Navesink.
The launch festivities were dying down and Meneer Block and Meneer Janszoon were walking up the embankment together with a local chief, in charge of the village closest to the building yard. He was a powerful chief and was more or less in charge of the Manhatta who controlled the lower part of the island where the building yard occupied the most southern point. They were having a conversation in Dutch. Over the past four years Dutch traders had mostly concentrated their operations in this location and he now spoke the language well. When they reached Navoo, the Chief bade them farewell and headed into the direction of his village.
Navoo stood up when the white men approached. They were both in a cheerful mood.
“I think in two weeken we can take Onrust to the Navesink Navoo. You will see your wife and maybe you will have a son or a daughter already too”, Meneer Janszoon said, “I envy you, I will not see my wife for probably one year”.
“Why is the ship named Onrust, Meneer Janszoon? Is it an animal?”
“No, it means it will always move and never rest.”
He gestured to Meneer Block, “Meneer Block wants to use it to explore the rivers and coasts around here this summer, and he is excited to get moving. We will be needing a translator and have been wondering if you want to join us.”
“Can I bring Pahki?”
Meneer Janszoon looked at Meneer Block.
Meneer Block took a second or so to answer, “Hmmm, last Fall I was concerned about the presence of women, and now we have nearly as many women as men in the yard. So far, that has not caused any problems, but Pahki will also want to bring the baby. I want to have a crew of about ten men and there may not be space. Let me think about it.”
He looked Navoo in the eyes, “Would you go without Pahki?”
Now Navoo paused before answering, “Let me think about it.”
Meneer Block laughed, “Well, we have some time. Meanwhile we have been invited for a feast at the village tonight so let’s focus on that first.”
Navoo watched Meneer Block and Meneer Janszoon walk towards the village when he saw a small canoe approach the slipway. The two occupants, a black man and a native woman rode the boat up the beach, got out and pulled it further up the shore. They dropped their paddles in the canoe and also started to walk towards the village.
Navoo stood up, walked down the hill and shouted out to the male occupant: “Jan!”
The canoer turned, smiled when he saw Navoo and they walked over to meet him.
The canoer was Juan Rodrigues, accompanied by his wife, who preferred being addressed by her Dutch name Hannah. He had arrived only last year on Captain Mosel’s ship the Jonge Tobias. That is where the Navesinks had first met him briefly when they were trying to trade with one of the other vessels. Juan Rodrigues had been an African slave who escaped his master in the Caribbean, joined Captain Mosel’s ship and arrived in Manhattan where he had shown a special talent in learning new languages. He already spoke Portuguese, Spanish, Carib, English and Dutch and learned passible Lenape in only a few short months. When Captain Mosel took the Jonge Tobias back to the Netherlands Juan, now often called Jan, decided to stay.
Somehow, he had managed to secure 80 steel axes and owned a musket and sword. He had been cautiously trading up the river that flows both ways and was reported to be learning the Haudenosaunee languages further North. He had a Lenape wife and lived with her tribe, and she was expecting his child a few months from now. Navoo knew there was some tension between Meneer Block and Jan, but Jan seemed to get along well with the other Nederlanders. Actually, Jan seemed to get along with everybody including all the tribes and even Meneer Block treated him with courtesy. In the one year he had become a universal central communications point in the area, stopping by at the construction site several times and often made quick suggestions that made the work much easier.
Being somewhat lonely, Navoo had made an immediate effort to become friendly with this fellow outsider who was also an insider, and Jan happily included him in his wide circle of friends.
“Good to see you Navoo, were you waiting for us?” Jan smiled.
“I don’t think so, but I am pleased to see you two and look forward to walking with you to the feast.”
“The boat looks quite good. Do you think Meneer Block will let me sail on her as crew?”
“I don’t know, but I can ask”, Navoo answered eagerly.
Jan paused for a few seconds, “That is very kind, but I believe I will ask him myself, he may not want me aboard and do not want you to embarrass yourself.”
“Meneer Block and Meneer Mosel do not like each other, and since I worked for Meneer Mosel he does not trust me. It is strange because I respect Meneer Block, but never really respected Meneer Mosel. Meneer Mosel does not have a good heart.”
They were almost at the village where the noise and fires ended the conversation. The feasters recognized Jan right away and all motioned to join them. Navoo was delighted that he could enter the feast with Jan and his wife at his side, it made him feel somewhat important.
Two weeks later, the Onrust with Navoo and the Dutchmen aboard passed south through the narrows being carried by a nice breeze. Beyond bringing his possessions aboard (including his adze, knife, needles and coat), helping with cleaning, and pulling on lines when told to do so, Navoo had not been part of the outfitting action. The Dutchmen knew what they were doing and did not bother to explain the different tasks to Navoo. It did give Navoo the chance to closely observe the outfitting, and now to observe the sailing of the vessel. He had no trouble figuring out the various components of the vessel. While his family had never built sailboats, their canoes had also dealt with wind on their voyages and their paddles used the same way these Dutchmen were using the rudder and the leeboards on the Onrust.
With the wind from behind, the sail was simply pushing the boat. What had confused him when he and Pahki had sailed up the Navesink river in the small sloop, was how the boat could keep moving when the wind came from the side, even over the bow. At some stage he started to realize that somehow the leeboard and the rudder together with these sails made that happen. He walked over to Meneer Janszoon at the tiller, sailing the boat close to the wind.
“What do you think of this, Navoo?” Meneer Janszoon was clearly enjoying himself, as were Meneer Block and the other Dutchmen. “She sails much better than expected. This will be a great boat to explore the waters around here. If the wind holds, we will easily arrive at your family’s village before noon.”
“I very much enjoy this Meneer Janszoon. To have the wind move us like this and so swiftly is much better than paddling. But why does the wind not push us back or sideways when the wind is coming from ahead?”
Meneer Janszoon did not immediately answer and frowned a little in concentration while trying to formulate an answer. “It works when you have the right combination of sails and rudder and boat. Some boats can only sail with the wind from behind, but if you have the right sails and the right boat it can be done. It is difficult to explain, but I can show you how it is done.”
He looked at Meneer Block who had been listening to the conversation and he nodded in agreement. Meneer Janszoon motioned Navoo to put his hands on the tiller.
“Follow along with me. Here I push the tiller away from me and the bow of the boat goes in the opposite direction, no different than a paddle in the stern of a canoe. But look at the sails. See how the wind starts to fill in on the opposite side of the sails? That takes the force out of the sails and the boat slows down. So we pull the tiller back, see how the sails fill again? That is as close to the wind as we can sail. Now you steer the boat so the sails stay filled, but as close as you can in the direction of the wind.”
Navoo took the tiller and with only minor instruction and correction by Meneer Janszoon he managed to keep Onrust moving close to the wind. Once he started to relax, he was almost overwhelmed by the sense of power that steering the boat gave him. Here he was single-handedly controlling this large boat that could carry many more people than the largest canoes his family had ever owned, harnessing the wind to make it move, possibly quicker than he had ever paddled a canoe. They were now in the open bay and the southeasterly wind had kicked up three-foot waves that, except for some spray, did not bother Onrust at all. The Dutchmen delighted in Navoo driving the boat to windward and made a special effort to nonchalantly assume relaxed positions along the deck, indicating to Navoo they were going to take naps and he should wake them up when they approached his village.
Navoo knew the Dutchmen were kidding, but in looking ahead to where he was going, he saw Onrust was going to run into one of the two islands to the west of the narrows. He could not go the left of them because then the sails would start to flutter and when he started to turn to the right of them, Meneer Janszoon told him to go back to the original course that headed straight for the islands. While they still had a distance to go before they would hit the islands he was becoming concerned that none of the Dutchmen were paying any attention. When he truly started to get nervous Meneer Janszoon stood up, took the tiller from Navoo and said, “Overstag” and the rest of the crew jumped up and went over to the various lines that controlled the sails and the leeboard.
Onrust turned sharply to the left and the wind made the sails shift to the opposite side of the boat. The crew tightened the various lines and now the ship was almost sailing back into the Narrows. Meneer Janszoon motioned Navoo back to the tiller and let him steer again.
Navoo had no idea where to steer, and after being corrected a number of times, Meneer Janszoon pointed to the Highlands and the general direction of his village in the distance past the point. “This is confusing to everybody who learns to sail, but you are a clever fellow and I think you will figure it out by the time we reach your family. The wind is blowing from the direction of your village so Onrust cannot directly sail into the wind, so we were sailing as close as we could, but because we cannot sail directly, we now need to approach the direction of the wind from the other side. So do the same thing you did last time, but now with the wind from the other side. To sail into the wind we need to follow a path like the teeth on our saws, back and forth.” He gestured with his hands to clarify the motion. “Right now, it looks like we are almost sailing back into the Narrows, but once we go overstag again, you will see that we can sail past the little islands and get closer to your village.”
Navoo felt his mind overwhelmed trying to keep up with all this information. But once he settled down on the new close-hauled course, it slowly became clear how this sailing worked. Before Navoo had figured things out, the crew had already determined that Navoo could steer the boat to windward, so some of them looked for comfortable spots to truly take a nap.
Meneer Janszoon and Meneer Block stayed with Navoo. There was a man on the bow throwing the lead and another who had climbed the rigging along the mast to get a better view ahead to avoid any shallows. At the next tack, Meneer Block took the tiller and Meneer Janszoon and the two crew on deck showed Navoo how to adjust the sails after the tack.
After a few more tacks, the tide had turned to flood and the Onrust sailed into the bay behind the peninsula so he could now see the village and Pytechay’s perch. The wind had shifted to the East and they were sailing directly towards the village with Navoo on the tiller. Since the wind allowed them to sail directly to the village, Navoo simply steered the boat for the village and one or two crew members occasionally adjusted the sails with shifting winds.
Soon he saw canoes leaving the shore. Two large ones were heading for Onrust and one smaller one headed up the river.
It did not take long for them to meet. Navoo now really enjoyed his position at the tiller and hoped he did not have to give it up. Nobody moved to take it from him so he waved to the canoes where he recognized his parents along with Nutimus, Quippa, Pytechay and many others of his village. Pahki was not there, but she would be staying at her parents’ village further up the river.
Onrust’s crew eased her sails to allow the canoes to pull up alongside. Meneer Janszoon and Meneer Block waved the elders and Navoo’s parents aboard. Once aboard, they almost rushed the after deck. Meneer Janszoon took the tiller from Navoo who introduced everybody to Meneer Block. The Dutch sheeted in again and she gained speed towards the village.
Soon the vessel was anchored within a stone’s throw off the village in a one knot flooding current. Since it was well past noon, Onrust had not been as fast as Meneer Janszoon had predicted, but the Dutchmen were entirely satisfied with her performance. Here was a little ship that drew much less water than ocean going vessels, but perfectly comfortable as a coastal vessel for 10 or more people. If she ran aground it would be possible to use manpower to kedge her off and, if truly necessary, she could even be maneuvered slowly with sweeps. On deck she carried the boat that had sailed up the Navesink the prior summer. She did not leak and sailed quite well. Her bulwarks provided protection in case of attack and her swivel guns could fire grape, gravel, glass and nails to make a strong impression on any attacker.
But none of that was needed today; all was joy and excitement. Navoo was swamped with questions and while he tried to translate for the Dutchmen, it was evident that Navoo would first have to tell his tale before the Dutchmen could get involved.
After everybody had been greeted, Nutimus took charge of the conversation, “How long are you staying?”
“I don’t know, maybe a few days, maybe the Dutch will leave without me. How is Pahki?”
Quippa jumped in, “She is well and you have a healthy son. She gave birth less than a moon ago. I sent a canoe to tell her you are here. I am sure she will be here before the morning with your son. And we have more beaver pelts,” she added, “We have collected them from the other families up the river. They are of excellent quality.”
“I will tell Meneer Block, but let me get my gear and go ashore if they do not need me right now.” Navoo turned to Meneer Janszoon, “May I go ashore right now and we will come back to get everybody for a meal before dark?”
“That is fine with us. We want to check some things and make some adjustments and if you can offer us a meal we can do more work here without having to worry about preparing one ourselves.”
Meneer Block and Meneer Janszoon watched the canoes return to shore. “Do you think we can all go ashore tonight or should we keep a guard aboard?” Meneer Block asked Meneer Janszoon.
“I was wondering the same thing. Normally I would not worry about our ship being stolen since these people do not know how to sail our boats anyway. But now I wonder that we taught Navoo too much. He may figure he can overpower us and take the ship.”
“Would he do that?” Block wondered out loud.
“He is a very clever fellow, and he is very good at not showing his hand.” Janszoom leaned forward on the bulwark to stare down at the tide passing by the hull, carrying a great school of menhaden with it.
“You know, I think he may have considered it, but I also think he is too smart to do anything rash. He may want to have this boat, but if I know him at all, I think he is more interested in learning more about us first than stealing our boat at the first opportunity. He is good for us, but we are just as good for him.”
Janszoon paused again and then looked at Block who was studying the village, “I don’t think he will steal the boat. Not yet.”
“Well then we should all go ashore”, Block responded, “I sort of concluded that we have no choice. We could all stay aboard and it would at least be difficult for this village to take Onrust, but then we would almost certainly insult the chief by showing him we don’t trust him. Or we could send a few people ashore, but then we would split our force and it would be easy for us to be overpowered ashore and there would not be enough people aboard to defend her. Damned if we do, damned if we don’t. But if it all stays friendly, we will at least have a proven trustworthy translator.”
“If he decides to come.”
Block nodded, “Agree, but that is a negotiation, and, if necessary, I will even take a crying baby aboard. Pahki can only be a help. I think she is even smarter than Navoo.”
Block chuckled at that, “Now I am really making sense, instead of allowing one smart person in our kitchen I am now allowing two. At least I don’t have to deal with that slimeball Hanrapen.”
“Or Juan Rodrigues,” Janszoon added.
“True, but Juan Rodrigues is not a slimeball. He is the smartest black man I ever met. Actually he may well be the smartest man I ever met, and that makes him too difficult to figure out. That is the problem. If I had allowed him to come along, he would have only become smarter and that would not serve me. I think that is why I am betting on Navoo. Smart enough, but not yet smarter than you and me.”
“So all ashore we go.” Janszoon concluded, “Piet and Guus will be happy. I need to warn the rest of the crew to be on their best behavior. They may be expecting too much. Do we bring arms ashore?”
“Personal small only. We will bring some gifts too. Unfortunately, we do not have much to offer.”
There was no need to launch the boat, for in the late afternoon two large canoes came alongside to take the crew ashore. The crew had tried to dress up a little, but both the long winter and poor ceremonial planning for Onrust’s maiden trip did not allow for much improvement on their daily clothing. When they came close to shore it became apparent the village had overdressed for the event, all wearing finery.
The elders and Jahkursoe were in the center of the crowd at the water’s edge and next to Jahkursoe was Pahki with a baby in her arms.
Once the crew stepped ashore Nutimus and Quippa had a quick exchange and Quippa and few of the women withdrew from the crowd. It was a lovely spring day and a large fire was burning inside a social circle on the beach. Pahki was warmly greeted by the crew and as far as sailors could determine and muster, they complimented Navoo and Pahki on the beauty of what turned out to be their son. They asked after his name and Pahki said she had wanted to wait for Navoo’s approval in naming their son so that right now he was nicknamed “little one”.
Pahki had only just arrived herself, having made the trip from her village to Navoo’s village in record time and barely had the chance to say hello to Navoo and her friends. She introduced Meneer Block to her parents and the chief of her village who had come with her.
When the Dutch arrived at the social circle, Quippa and the women returned to offer beautiful cloaks and moccasins for each crew member. Meneer Block expressed his appreciation while apologizing how he had little to provide in payment, and could only present a few small gifts. He offered Nutimus a knife, a pair of scissors, a chisel and a few needles.
Through Navoo, Nutimus explained that he expected no gifts knowing that Meneer Block and his crew had worked hard to build the beautiful boat that visited his village before any other place in the world. The honor of the visit was the best gift and the cloaks are his grateful response.
Meneer Block then turned to Quippa: “You mentioned that you have many beaver pelts. We have no way to pay for them right now. Can I ask you to keep them for us until I have the means to pay for them at the end of summer? Other traders will arrive from my country soon. They will bring my trade goods from Holland with which I can pay for the pelts. I plan to further explore the rivers and inlets around here and when I come back later this summer, I can collect my trade goods at Manhattan and make payment for your pelts.”
Quippa nodded in agreement and was ready to speak up when Meneer Block continued: “I realize that you have collected pelts from other villages and you have a responsibility to them to get the best possible price. Other traders may offer attractive prices, but can I ask you to hold the pelts until I can make a better offer?”
“You answered my concern Meneer Block. To keep the peace, I will need to make sure nobody can question the price I negotiate. Your suggestion can be easily explained to the other villages, and we will be patient. Fortunately, we lack nothing here and can wait.” She continued, “You mentioned you will be going on a long trip. Do you need any food and other supplies?”
“We do, but, as I said, we have little to trade.”
Quippa smiled, “That will make it difficult for you to make a successful voyage over the summer, I would like to make you an offer. Allow us to provide you with supplies and you will pay us upon your return later this summer.”
“That is a generous offer and I would like to provide you with something of little immediate practical use, but has significant value to my countrymen. You have seen the guns we use to hunt and fight with. We have even larger guns that are used to fight other ships. The Tyger had two such large guns. I offer to leave those two guns in your care as security against our agreement. They are of little use in combat ashore, as they require training and a lot of gunpowder of which we have little right now, but if I do not repay you, you can trade them to my countrymen for other things.”
“I think I know what you have in mind. The guns will be like hostages. I did not ask for hostages, but what you offer makes sense. Do you have the guns aboard Onrust or are they still at Manhattan?”
“They are aboard the ship.”
“But then you will not be able to defend yourself against other ships?” Quippa wondered.
“They are too big for use aboard. We have smaller guns and I do not expect to have to fight against large ships. We packed up all our remaining possessions aboard Onrust and the guns are deep in the bottom of the boat to serve as ballast. We can remove the guns and put stones in their place.”
Quippa paused a moment to ponder. “How valuable are those large guns to your countrymen?”
Meneer Block shrugged, “That is difficult to say exactly, but I do think they can be traded for 30 to 40 steel knives or a few handheld guns, with bullets and gunpowder.”
“Well in that case I would like to make you another offer. I am not sure how helpful it will be, but I think you know we use wampum for trade and we make wampum here and have much of it. While I am sure the people you will meet on your voyage will prefer your Dutch goods over wampum, they may still want to trade pelts and supplies for wampum. We can provide you with a large amount of wampum, if you can trade pelts for wampum we will share the pelts evenly between us and you.”
She continued before Meneer Block could agree, ‘and naturally we would send some of our family to join you to record such trades.”
“I already expected that Navoo will join us,” Meneer Block responded.
Quippa was ready with her answer: “Pahki and the baby will join him. Pahki is too smart to be fooled in trade.” There was immediate laughter by the villagers and when Navoo translated the Dutchmen laughed too. The moment the Dutchmen started to laugh, Navoo gave Quippa a grateful glance. He had told her about his desire to have Pahki join the voyagem, and she had found a strong argument in her negotiations.
Meneer Block continued to smile: “I can only agree to all of that. Quippa. Are you sure you do not want to join me to negotiate with the people we meet on the voyage?”
“While I would very much enjoy that, my presence will be needed here over the summer.” She smiled at Pahki’s parents, “I need to keep the villages up the river well informed and happy, and who would negotiate with the other Dutchmen that may stop by this summer?”
ENDNOTES:
Janszoon, Block and Rodrigues are historical characters. Their interactions with the Navesinks are fictitious. A substantial part of the action takes place on Manhattan. No effort has been made to describe the tribal relationships on the island, but the description of the construction of the Onrust fits within available descriptions.
Once built, the Onrust departed on a cruise of the region that went around Long Island and south to Cape May. The actual crew make up is not known, but it is likely they carried native Americans as translators and facilitators. Block Island was named after Block. Somewhere out there they met another ship, that had Block’s business partner Hendrickson aboard and they switched vessels where Hendrickson continued the exploration on Onrust. There is no evidence Block or his crew had any contact with Navesink clans.
The transfer of the ship’s guns to the Navesinks is also fictitious. In 1861 an old gun was found buried at Twin Lights and is presently on display in front of the lighthouse. The origin of the gun is not known and it is actually newer than 1614 (the gun was probably cast after the mid 1600’s), but it is fun to think that it arrived there due to an exchange along the lines that is described in the story. Often buried objects are found and one wonders what the back story is. This is just an illustration of the randomness of historical events. Maybe the guns will come back in later chapters.