They found the English ship, the William, about a mile below fort
Orange. A tent was pitched upon the shore, where, for a fortnight, the
English had been pursuing a very lucrative traffic for furs. The Dutch
soldiers were in strength which Elkins could not resist.

They ordered him to strike his tent. He refused. They did it for him;
reshipped all his goods which he had transferred to the shore, to
trade with the Indians, and also the furs which he had purchased. They
then weighed the anchors of the William, unfurled her sails, and, with
trumpet blasts of victory, brought the ship, captain and crew down to
fort Amsterdam. The ship was then convoyed to sea, and the discomfited
Elkins returned to London. Thus terminated, in utter failure, the
first attempt of the English to enter into trade with the Indians of
New Netherland.

The Dutch were now the only Europeans who had occupied any part of the
present territory of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
They were also carrying on a very flourishing trade with the Indians
on the Connecticut river, which was then called Fresh river, and this
"long before any English had dreamed of going there." The Value of
this traffic may be inferred from the fact that, in the year 1633,
sixteen thousand beaver skins were sent to Holland from the North
river alone.

To strengthen their title, thus far founded on discovery and exclusive
visitation, the Dutch, in 1632, purchased of the Indians nearly all of
the lands on both sides of the Connecticut river, including Saybrook
Point, at the mouth, where the arms of the States-General were affixed
to a tree in token of possession. A fort was also commenced, near the
mouth of the river, and a trading post established some miles up the