Contract with accompanying papers (Indian Deed) 1677

              On this day the ccvj(18) May of this year 1677
the associates mentioned below have agreed
with permission Of the H[onorab]le Governor Edmond
Andros[,] dated the 28 April 1677. with the
Undersigned Esopus Indians Regarding [the] Purchase of certain
Lands[.] 



M[  (19)]saijaij, [  ]kahakaway, [ ]agakahos, 
Asinnerakan, Wawawanis, who confess to have sold
to Lowies du Booys and his associates
the Land beginning[,] According to these stipulations[,] At the
High mountains at A Place called Moggonck
from there Southeast to the River to the 
Hoeck(20) called Juffrous(21) hoeck being Situated in the 
Lange Rack[,] called by the Indians MagaatRamis[,]
than up North Along the River to the Island
called [	          (22)] Esopus Island and in the Indian [language] 


Raphoes - than due [W]est: to the high mountains
to a Place called Waratahaes: no
Tawaentaquis(23)[, than] southwest along the high mountains 
up to Maggonck: being marked at the Four corners
including all that is in it[:] mountains vales and
waters Etc:-: and a Free road to the Ronduyt
Kill as fit as can ever be found - 
in addition[,] that the Indians shall have the hunting 
of all game[,] animals and fisheries as free as 
the Christians, for which Land the Indians have
obtained the g[oods?(24)] specified  [below?] 



Notes 
 

18 Roman numerals; 26.
19 In this and the next two cases in the same line, damage to the 
original prohibits any closer transcription. Fernow gives: Matsayay, 
Nehakaway, Magakahoos. 

20 Hoeck (literally, 'corner;' italics added) refers to an area of land 
that protrudes pointedly into a body of water. 

21 The name of this particular hoeck refers to a "young lady, miss" 
(italics added). 

22 The exact word (words?) is (are?) impossible to decipher; even in 
the original it is half crossed out. Fernow provides a substantially 
different translation: "lying in the Crum Elbow at the beginning of the 
Long Reach." 

23 Possibly, the word ends in -ques. Fernow gives Tawaeretaque. 

24 In this case, and the next one in the same sentence, damage to the 
original (and/or the photocopy) prohibits a reconstruction of the word. 
For this section, Fernow gives: "for the goods specified here below."