26 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

their interests. Their fur-trade, meanwhile, despite the loss of their traffic on the Connecticut, was steadily and largely increasing, and a new and profitable commerce had sprung up with New England and the West Indies. The constant reiteration of complaints and serious charges against Van Twiller, however, made to the West India Company, finally determined them to remove him from office. Accordingly, early in the spring of 1638, lie was superseded by William Kieft, who, though “a more discreet and sober man” than his predecessor, was of an active, “inquisitive,” and grasping disposition; and by no means so prudent a magistrate as the circumstances of the province demanded. He set bravely to work to correct the many abuses, both social and civil, which had grown up under Van Twiller’s administration; but the people were of too mixed a character, and had been too long allowed the license of doing as they pleased, to yield readily to his proclamations, or even to the more forcible measures of restraint which he inaugurated. That he was not unmindful of the company's material interests, was evidenced by the judicious purchases of territory which he made in the neighborhood of Manhattan. On the 1st of August, 1638, he secured for the West India Company a tract of land adjoining Rapalie’s plantation on Long Island, extending from “Rennegackonck” (ante, page 24, note) to what is now known as Newtown Creek, and from the East River to “the swamps of Mespaetches.” The price paid to the native “chiefs of Keskaechquerem” for this extensive area, which comprised the whole of the former town of Bushwick, now forming the Eastern District of the city of Brooklyn, was eight fathoms of duffels cloth, eight fathoms of wampum, twelve kettles, eight adzes, eight axes, and some knives, corals, and awls.1

At “Paulus Hook” (Jersey City), at “Corlaer’s Hook” (opposite Brooklyn) on Manhattan Island, and at other places in the vicinity of New Amsterdam, permanent improvements were commenced by various persons, and around the fertile region of the “Waal-bogt” began to cluster the “plantations” of active husbandman.

Meanwhile, the prestige which the Dutch had heretofore maintained on the South River, received a severe shock. A Swedish

1. The deed (the earliest recorded to the West India Company) for this important purchase, will be found, in full, as Appendix No. 2.