HISTORY OF BROOKLYN. 115

and that they had been ordered to remove thither. To this they objected, “inasmuch as the place is wholly unfit for the purpose, partly because the woodland thereabout, being stony, is not suitable for arable land,” and “little or no crops can be, apparently, expected from it, as it cannot be ploughed, in consequence of the large number of rocks and hollows thereabouts; wherefore, it is impossible, even by the hardest labor, to obtain a scanty living there. Moreover, in consequence of the uncommon height of the land there, it is impossible to find good and sufficient water to make a well. Jan do Kaeper’s (Jan, the sailor’s) well is an example of this: it adjoins his house in the valley (meadow), and people must descend into it by means of ladders, and then scoop the water in a little bowl, which (i.e. the well), nevertheless, does not suffice (to supply) two families who are dwelling there at present.” The streams in the neighborhood are mostly dried up in summer, and during the winter season the roads are often very “hard and pointed by the frost, or deep and muddy in heavy rains, or well-nigh impassable from snow,” so that, when people wish to water their cattle, they are obliged to fetch the water in barrels from Theunis Gysbertse (Bogaert’s) well, which is a most fatiguing and injurious business for farmers, both in summer and winter;” a drudgery, in fact, which the petitioners state they “daily see performed by their neighbors with a weeping eye.” For these reasons the petitioners requested permission “to build a block-house on Joris Rapaille’s point (hoeck),” which they considered a “much preferable place for the purpose,” being “by nature more defensible and stronger,” the water there being Òby far the richest fountain in the entire couutry”, and the spot being conveniently Ònear their bouweries and plantations.” They admitted the possibility of being separated from each other by occasional high floods; but they expected to lay a bridge over the Kil1—two or three planks broad—and to grant to each one who was willing to settle there convenient lots for houses and gardens, of which they would transfer to them their whole right and title, “so that, under God's blessing, it might soon increase to a convenient village.” Their arguments prevailed with

1 “Runnegackonck,” the creek which formed the easterly boundary of Rapalie’s farm, and emptied Into the Wallabout Bay.