The only Indian inhabitants of New Jersey were tribes of the Delaware, the most peaceful of all the aborigines, and who readily conceded their claims to the country on very easy terms to the settlers. As regards this Delaware portion of the Indian people, so different in character to all the other tribes, we must be allowed a moment’s interruption to relate how, according to their own tradition, this difference arose. It appears that, in old times, long and grievous wars were carried on between the Iroquois and the Delawares, until both nations were in danger of annihilation. On this the Iroquois sent to the Delawares, saying, “it is not profitable that all nations should be at war with each other, or this will at length cause the ruin of the whole Indian race. We have, therefore, considered a remedy. One nation shall be the WOMAN. She shall make no war, but she shall speak words of peace, to heal the disputes of those who are walking in foolish ways. The men then shall hear and obey the woman.” The Delawares consented to this remedy. A council was called, and again the Iroquois spoke: “We dress you in the woman’s long habit; we give you oil and medicines, and a plant of Indian corn, with a hoe. To your care we commit the great belt of peace and chain of friendship.” But even if this tradition may be fiction, it nevertheless is well known that the Delawares were greatly respected and honoured by many tribes, and that the term “grandfather” was applied to them, though _grandmother_, one would think, would have been more appropriate. This assumed relationship, however, may have reference to the good Delaware sagamore, _Tamenend_, who lived in their tradition as King Arthur in ours. Philip Carteret landed at the settlement on Newark Bay, to which the name of Elizabethtown, in honour of Lady Carteret, the wife of the proprietary, was given, and which was established as the seat of government. Wishing to attract steady settlers from the New England colonies, Carteret announced that “puritan liberties were warranted a shelter on the Raritan;” and an association of church-members from New Haven emigrated thither immediately. “With one heart they resolved to carry on their spiritual and town affairs according to godly government,” and proceeded to elect officers among themselves, excluding all from political rights who could not claim church-membership. This, though not in accordance with the intentions of the proprietary, was not interfered with. Emigrants were attracted, not only from New England, but from Great Britain. The climate was mild and salubrious; the soil fertile; and the vicinity of the older settlements prevented the danger of distress to which earlier settlers were exposed; besides which, no hostility was to be feared from the peaceful natives. A combination of circumstances thus rendered New Jersey especially promising for colonisation.