The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-09-26

0l6 p0Et III Saving tuctn lxOn ouiP-
wreck that be Insisted that my grand
parent should again take charge Of
the ship and 60 whithersoever he
would, and accordingly delivered her
up to him.
"After fair weather set in, Jacob
Claesz having again assumed COM
mand of the Hendrick Frederick, set
sail. To avoid Van Mort, as well as
other vessels, he bore west by north.
He sailed nearly that course for sixty
Eve days. when, during a stormy
night the ship was driven On the
rocky coast Of Nolucombo, aud SO
completely torn to pieces that but
few fragments of her were ever found.
All the men aboard her were drowned
except Jacob Claesz and one sailor
by the name of Johannes Van Ness.
They chung to portion of her cabin
as she went to pieces, and were final
ly drifted ashore"
swell. what of Nolucombo 2" said
/, becoming go carried away with his
narrative that / had entirely for
gotten myself.
Jacob Claesz's posterity and that
of Van Ness have resided there since.
In fact, there was no way Of avoid
ing it, as no foreign vessels ever land
at our ports, and our boats, such as
they are, seldom visit even the neigh
boring islands. My countrymen have
no love for the perils of the sea.
Ny grandparent and Van Ness mar
ried native women, and the two fam
lilies are now quite numerous, and ]
may say much thought Of. ! believe
I have something like 1900 blood
relatives there.
"Nolucombo," be continued, "is
continent by itself, or at least an
island so large that it may well claim
continental proportions. Its people
are intelligent, thrifty, social and re-
ligious. ] have yet to visit the land
that would be cause me to forsake it..
We are devoted to agriculture and
manufacturing, and we make as good
fabrics and utensils both for house
aud field as l have seen elsewhere.
Our government is simple. just. not
oppressive, and wo have no wars
Our mines OF gold, silver, iron aud
other metals are numerous and rich
We have no such barren wastes as !
have passed over on my way from
California here. / do not like this
country or Mexico, and the more /
see of them the less / like them,
Our cities are large and well built.
mostly of stone and brick, some Of
them numbering 5000 and 1000 in
habitants. We have good schools
aud fine churches, the religion being
that taught in this Bible, which was
long since translated into the Nolu-
acombo languages. The whole popu-
lstion of our country is not less than
Is. O0O, 600, the larger portion Of
which is engaged in farming and
stock growing.
II did intend to 60 to Holland, OF
which / have heard so much. But l
.h.ro.a no mind IT ehau on
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