The Dutch Among the Natives: American Indian-Dutch Relations, 1609–1664

"Their language, which is the first thing to be employed with them, methinks is entirely peculiar. Many of our common people call it an easy language, which is soon learned, but I am of a contrary opinion." Rev. Jonas Michaëlius, 1628.

"I am making a vocabulary of the Mahakuaas' [Mohawk] language, and it costs me great pains to learn it, so as to be able to speak and preach in it fluently. There is no Christian here who understands the language thoroughly." Domine Megapolensis, 1644.

"Their languages are very diverse and differ as much from one another as Dutch, French, Greek, and Latin." Adriaen van der Donck, 1655.

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The languages that perplexed these Dutchmen were of two families: Eastern Algonquian and Northern Iroquoian. Many Native communities in the region, some of whose names were recorded by arriving Europeans while others were not, spoke an Eastern Algonquian language or dialect. Outside the boundaries of New Netherland were numerous central New England groups known as the Northern Indians, and to their north, the New England and St. Lawrence Algonquians. Within the boundaries of New Netherland, beginning in the immediate vicinity of Fort Orange, were the Mahicans, speaking a language of the same name. Farther down the Hudson Valley to Manhattan, in northern New Jersey, northeastern Pennsylvania, and on western Long Island, were Munsee-speakers--the Esopus, Wappingers, Minisinks, Tappans, Raritans, Canarses, Rockaways, and others. In the middle stretch of the Housatonic Valley were the Wampanoo-speaking Weantinocks, while nearest Long Island Sound and on eastern Long Island were speakers of Quiripi-Unquachog. In southern coastal New England were found the Mohegans, Pequots, Wampanoags, and Narragansetts, that like the rest, spoke Eastern Algonquian languages. For the Dutch in New Netherland, the Mohawks, speakers of a Northern Iroquoian language, were of critical importance as their confederates to the west--the Oneidas, Onondagas, and others--would carry furs to Fort Orange through their homeland.