Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-10-03

"Well. what Of Eolucombo?'
said I, becoming so carried away
with his narrative that had entire
~ forgotten myself.
Jacob Claesz's postcrity and
that of Van Ness nave resided there
since. In fact. there was no way of
avoiding il, as no foreign vessels
ever land at our ports, and our
boats, such as they are, seldom visit
even the eighboring islands. Ny
countrymen have no love for the
perils OF the sea.
my grandparent and Van Ness
married native women, and the
two families are now quite numer-
Gus, and | may say much thought
of. I believe / have something
like 1900 blood relatives there.
"Noiucombo, he continued, sis
a continent, by itself, or at least IN
island so large that it may well
claim continental proportions. It's
people are intelligent, thrifty, So
cial and religious. l have yet to
visit the land that would cause
me to forsake it. We are devoted
TO agriculture and manufacturing,
and we make as good fabrics and
utensils both for house and field
as ] have seen elsewhere. Our
government is simple, just, not OPP
prcssive, and we have no wars.
Our mines OF gold, silver, iron and
other metals are numerous and rich,
We have no such barren wastes az
have passed over on my way
from California here. | do not like
this country or Mexico, and the
more ] see Of them the less l like
them. "Our cities are large and
we'll built, mostly OF brick and
stone, some of them numbering,
1900 and 1000 inhabitants. We
have good schools and fine church
cs, the religion being that taught
in this Bible, which was since
translated into the NoiucombO Ian
guagc. The whole population of
our country is not less than II, 90
0O, the larger portion OF which Is
engaged in farming and stock
growing.
~ did intend TO 60 to Holland,
Of which | have heard so much,
Bat | have changed my mind. !
shall 90 nc further east.
The things YOU excel us N are
your railroads, your ships, and
your use OF electricity. which We
know nothing of. ! shall return to
| California, and, after studying
these subjects for time, ! am
going back to my old home and
will Introduce them there.
"No, l do not ike this country,
| he went on to say. You have
too much crime here-too many
murders and ouLrages-and theft'
and frauds being perpetratcd al
the time. Our morals are better
if ctr compilations are not quite al
white; and our ladies are mucl
the better-looking, and seem 4
!, make better wives, and they cnjo.
all the liberties and privileges tina
yours do, and more, | think. >
"How came you III this couu
! try?" | questioned.
~ had always heard my folks
: and especially my father an
grandfather, talking about larg
: ships that piled between Hollan
and the East Indies, and that thei
: route lay to Tie north Of us. | dI
termined to know if this were Sc
$ and, if possible, reach some POI
where l could ship on board of OF
!, Of these and gain more knowlcdg
u of the world. was not contenteC
8 and instead of marrying and SCI
D Ting down, took the means m
G father portioned to me, invested
: lone of our best constructed boats
!, manned it and put to sea. After
u circuitous route, lasting $50 day
we arrived at Tahita, where | too
: ship on a Spanish brig that lande
me at Acapulco. On this brig,
/ Acalupo, and along the coast
II learned what little Spanish knoT
e The Claesz and Van Ness at Bel'
u ny, the city where the create
s number of our families reside, a
e ways instruct their children in I'll
n Holland language, but l hay
). learned, since being in this cOul
u try, where I have met Hol!anderj
L that my pronunciation Of it is vel
% inaccurate.
IS "Thls is the first time | ha,
made my identity known" sal
u Claesz, and should not now hay
, done so but for the interest yC
&c manifested in me and the kindne
, with which you have treated IN
s. DO not mention it. take the ne.
Is train for San Francisco, and -
{ is now nearly train time pleasee.
re cuse me, for | must bid you adieu
!! Before l had time to thank him T
oV all he had told me he was gone.
&c took some memoranda of VIII
y; Maloca Claesz said to me, and aft
20 arriving here at Texarkana | tur
re ed to history Of Holland had
ID hand and learned that Admiral {
n liver Van Mort sailed from Hollal