Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
PRE- AND EARLY COLONIAL LITERATURE
this life, after death will go to another place, where their condition will be directly
contrary to the rst; where they will never enjoy peace and contentment, as the
good will do. But I have never been able rightly to discover whether they believe the
soul will be hereafter united to the body. I have, however, spoken with Christians
who remark, that they have heard them state such to be their belief. But they do
not arm to this fact. When they hear voices or noises in the woods at night, which
frequently happens, and which, we believe, usually proceed from wild animals, but
which they declare, with fear and astonishment, are made by the wicked, the souls
of whom are thus doomed to wander at night in the woods and solitary palaces for
punishment in unhappy situations. The Indians, because they fear those subjects,
do not travel by night unless it be necessary, and then go in parties or companies;
when they go alone they always carry a re-brand with them, with which they
believe they can keep o those evil spirits and prevent them from doing them any
injury, which, they say, are always disposed to frighten them and do them wrong.
They acknowledge also that the soul proceeds from God, and that the same is
his gift. This we sometimes learn from their old men of understanding, when an
opportunity presents itself in conversation and we probably would discover more
of them in relation to this matter, if we did perfectly understand their languages.
Among their common or young people we do not hear those spoken of. In this we
still see the providence of God, who, by the common light of nature, has given to
this people the knowledge that there is, after this life, a reward for the just, and a
punishment for the unjust, which all mankind may expect.
1.9.2 Reading and Review Questions
1. How, why, and to what eect does van der Donck assert the right of the
Dutch to possess New Netherland? What assumptions about law and
jurisdiction does he make, and why?
2. What details of Dutch culture can be inferred by van der Donck’s
description of the land, crops, and people in New Netherland? How does
van der Donck’s description in this way dier from that of other New
World accounts?
3. Van der Donck records details of American Indian lives and culture to
prevent regret over their inevitable disappearance. According to van der
Donck, who will feel this regret? Why?
4. Why did the Dutch “name” American Indians the “wilden?” How does
van der Donck justify this name as appropriate, even as he acknowledges
that dierent tribes and groups exist, each with their own distinct name?
5. Van der Donck recounts an American Indian noting how the Christian
God allows himself to be burnt (when a Christian altar and relics catch
re and burn). Van der Donck declares that the American Indian mocked
the Christian God. Why does van der Donck recount this event and this
so-called mockery? What do you think is van der Donck’s point?
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